68 Charger headlight doors go up but not down. Also-should there be a vacuum can

[Corellian Corvette]

Sorry for the rash of questions today.

Trying to wade through the wiring mess on my 68 charger. Put new vacuum lines to the headlights, and now I can get the doors to to up when I turn the lights on, but they won't go down - I assume if the canister is holding vacuum for them to go up, they should work to go down. All lines are new all the way to the switch.

Also - I keep hearing about a vacuum canister. I don't see one anywhere on my car. Should there be one? Where is it mounted?

Thanks!

[mikepmcs]

Can is under the battery.

check it for leaks(by pulling it and physically looking at it).  But it could be your headlight switch or the actuators(doubtful).  I would do a vac test first though to make sure all the new hoses are 100%. 
v/r
Mike

[myk]

That canister is there, or else the doors would never have worked. 

Did the doors work properly before you put in the new vacuum lines?  Not being able to come down means that something's unplugged or not receiving the vacuum signal properly.  Easiest thing to check would be the switch connections.  It would also help to have a shop manual that shows this stuff in detail...

[mikepmcs]

actually you can bypass the system and not have the can in there, but you will only be able to open and close the headlight doors when the car is running.  can is for holding vac for a one time open and shut with the car off. 
here's a diagram from 71 Deputy from a while back.
if your can is bad and you need to replace it, by a 46oz dole pineapple juice can, carefully remove your vac fitting from the old can and cut an offset hole in the new can and jb weld the old tee fitting on the new can.  it will cost you about $3.  or you can search for one on ebay and pay from $50-$150 for it.  also someone is repopping them for $125.  oh yeah, and they are doing it the way i just told you how.
there's a good chance your can is bad regardless of the other problem so i'd check it out anyways.  remove the battery and remove the 2 bolts holding the bracket and take it out because the damage will most likely be where the bracket is attached to the can.
good luck
v/r
Mike

[Corellian Corvette]

Thanks. Turns out the can is gone, so I have to get a repop anyway. I have the vac lines connected properly now, but the grille is loose and hte doors are hanging up on the way down, that's why they aren't shutting properly...

[mikepmcs]

on mine one of the actuators was loose too.  i think someone sells just the adapter tee fitting for the can$15.00, i'll try to find that thread for you.
v/r
Mike

[69chargeryeehaa]

maybe this will help?  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,9472.msg114219.html#msg114219

if the hoses are good then it's most likely the swith.  you don't need the canister for it to work, the canister stores vacuum for when the car is not running, so you can close/open the headlight doors about 1 time.  it also allows smoother operation of the lights, and reduces the wear on them, if you hook up directly to the intake, the vacuum pulses, and that is added wear and tear on the diaphram in the actuator.

[squeakfinder]

on mine one of the actuators was loose too.  i think someone sells just the adapter tee fitting for the can$15.00, i'll try to find that thread for you.
v/r
Mike

So anybody ever figure out what that valve on the reservoir canister is called? And if there available anywhere?

[TylerCharger69]

sounds to me like when you placed new vacuum lines,  you got two of them crossed.