illuminated vanity mirrors (driver side)

[1980coupe]

Hi, I own a 1980 Cadillac Coupe and today the driver side illuminated visor doesn't work. It used to fine with no effort then when I flip the cover the lights wouldn't come on unless you push up more on the cover (once open) then it will but today I did that and no more lights? I haven't check the bulbs yet but the passenger side works fine, thinking if one side goes out the otehr will. If the bulbs check out OK, what else could it be?
Thanks guys....

[carnut]

Where the sunvisor pivots on the shaft is where the wires pass thru to the headliner. Years of pulling the visor up/ down can cut a wire so no voltage gets to either light. The lens pops off with a small screwdriver tip at either end of the lens to check the bulb first. My first thought is the switch behind the vanity door you open is faulty or broken. As you say, if fully open they would quit unless you lowered the door slightly to turn them on. One side failing has nothing to do with the other side. Quite frankly them working since 1980 is amazing!

[1980coupe]

Originally Posted by carnut

Where the sunvisor pivots on the shaft is where the wires pass thru to the headliner. Years of pulling the visor up/ down can cut a wire so no voltage gets to either light. The lens pops off with a small screwdriver tip at either end of the lens to check the bulb first. My first thought is the switch behind the vanity door you open is faulty or broken. As you say, if fully open they would quit unless you lowered the door slightly to turn them on. One side failing has nothing to do with the other side. Quite frankly them working since 1980 is amazing!

Hi, I was able to check on what was wrong with this side and it turns out it was the switch, I guess you can call it that, located on the visor that flips open. There's a metal tab that was held on by plastic tabs that have broken off, so what I did was I took it off the visor , took it inside, turned on the heat glue gun and glued it and presto it works now. Yeah, I'm surprised too that they still work. Would you know why my twilight sentinel lights don't work? Only headlights come on but no parking lights(front, side mkrs, opera, rear side mkrs, rear lights and license plate)
Much thanks for your input!

[carnut]

The Twilight sentinal on/off switch is mounted behind the regular headlight switch. I think maybe The wiring connector to it is either partially disconnected or a wire is broken. In order to remove the headlight switch you have to reach up behind the dash and depress a little spring loaded button on the headlight switch to fully remove the knob and shaft from the switch. Then rotate the nut on the dash face to remove it to allow the switch to drop down to ck the connections.

[1980coupe]

Originally Posted by carnut

The Twilight sentinal on/off switch is mounted behind the regular headlight switch. I think maybe The wiring connector to it is either partially disconnected or a wire is broken. In order to remove the headlight switch you have to reach up behind the dash and depress a little spring loaded button on the headlight switch to fully remove the knob and shaft from the switch. Then rotate the nut on the dash face to remove it to allow the switch to drop down to ck the connections.

Hey, well today I turned off my lights by pushing in the knob and I turned on the sentinel by rotating the switch and all lights came on but then only the headlights stayed on while the rest went out. I probably think the controller unit might be loose or coming into contact with all the neatly organized wiring(yeah right). I'll look into it on Thursday on my day off. Much thanks!