Hey everyone, I just bought a '69 DeVille convertible, and I have a couple of questions that I would think are no-brainers, hopefully someone can help.

1) Where on earth is the kick-on switch for the highbeams ? I'm perplexed.

2) Are there any after-market frames for the headlights, as I have to replace the passenger side's frame and headlights, as the low beams are dim and they rattle around in the frame. I really doubt I can find a frame for these in a yard somewhere. :/

3) Climate control in this is vacuum-controlled, yes? The guy I bought it from said it was electronic, but I highly doubt it in a '69. If so, does anyone have a vacuum diagram for this because it's freezing cold up here in Indiana and I don't have heat! *shiver* Air I could care less for, because well, it's a convertible. If it's hot, the top goes down.

4) That leads me to the next question... I see latch handles on the sides, but I'm not sure if it's manual or automatic retract for the top. I don't see any buttons or knobs anywhere to retract it, so is it manual? How can I tell ?

I have attached some pictures of it (sorry about it being night, I'll repost day pictures when I have time this weekend).

Any help is appreciated,

Jake

Hi Jake.

I own one of these also!

The high beam footswitch is on the left hand side of the footwell.

As far as I know, there are no aftermarket frames. Ebay has used ones quite regularly

The climate is vacuum controlled as far as I know. It's quite complicated to figure out... My climate is not working since I got the car. I fix I had was to look up onto the firewall and in the centre at the top there should be a large vacuum can with and arm coming out of it and a lot of vac lines. The arm controls the blend door, I'm not sure whether it's full to the left or full to the right that gives full heat. you will need to test this. Once you find which gives full heat to the car interior, you can take the 12v from the AC compressor and attach it to the blower motor directly. This means you can turn the blower on and off from inside the car. This should blast you with full heat! Not an ideal solution but I've been using it until I can afford the expensive climate parts needed to get it running like stock.

The latches are manual. You need to pull the handles toward yourself to release the catches securing the top to the windshield. once you do this, there should be a switch to the left of the speedometer which operates the electric top. There were no manual tops. there is way to fold the top manually though, but I don't know how to do this.

Best of luck !

Jon

btw I think your grille is from a 1970 model..... I'm obesssed with these cars!!

Jon,

You rock. I'll look at it shortly. I don't believe I have a switch to the left of the speedo, but it could be that it's knocked out. There is a hole where a switch COULD be, but I don't know. I have been waiting for a warm day on a weekend to tear into her and find out what all is wrong. I also have a fuel gauge to tinker with, as it shows strange levels.

What kind of economy does yours get ? :)

-- Jake

Jake. Glad to be of service.

I think that's where the top switch 'was'....

Mine was replaced with an aftermarket replacement before I bought it. The originals are completely unavailable.

My economy, if you can call it that :annoyed: is about 10-12 mpg, i think!

When I got the car it had ignition and electrical problems, I think it was getting about 6mpg, as you can imagine, this was terrifying. It's running very well now.

How well is yours running? good power? idle?

Cheers

ps. my fuel gauge reads 1/8 full when in fact it is empty! Twas fun finding out about that !

Well, I found out today that the switch has indeed been destroyed (it burned up) and the wires are three of the ones hanging below the dash.

No big deal. She runs great, good power, stable idle, but it's a bit rough. She needs a tune-up pretty bad - I also found out that I need to repair the hydraulics for the retractor/extender assemby, as they're somewhat weak. No big deal to get them rebuilt I'm sure.

After a tuneup and getting the lights redone, I think it'll be more than serviceable until I can afford to redo the other bits. More pictures to come as tomorrow will be a sunny day!

- Jake

hey Jake!

From te front of your car it looks to be a '70. I thought the '69's had the stand up hood ornament and in '70 they were on the front of the hood, in '71 they reappeared again.
I could be wrong but that's what I remember. However you could have had a replacement hood along the way. Good luck with straightening the car out. It's one if my favourite convertible years.

Enjoy Nick

1969 tail lights and bumper...

if anyone has a 1970 bumper or trunk lid, email me...

Go to www.cadillactim.com (http://www.cadillactim.com) he has a climate control break down for different years. I just got my 68 working like a champ.

You may have a bad Heater valve. On my 68 it is located on the passenger side fender wheel house. I had 3 vacume hose and 2 heater hoses on mine.

Under the dash, on the glove box side, mounted to the firewall, you will see a silver cigar shaped transducer very important part of the Climate Control System. If the transducer is bad your CCS will not work.

Hope this helps.

I think the convertible switch is the same as mine mounted on top inside of the instrument cluster bezel