Old Wire Lesson

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, I pulled the car out of the garage the other night, I noticed my tail lights went dim a few times, then I noticed my license plate lamp going off and on, sure enough, it was shorting at the bulb socket somehwere.

I just pulled this off the car, and had a look at the wire and socket on the bench, pulled the old bradied insulation back, discovered the single 14 g wire insulation all cracked up, at the base of the bulb socket it was clean worn off to bare wire.

No wonder this was shorting, one of the only items I did not rewire, I did run a new wire to it, but joined the new wire to the wire from the bulb socket.

This was a problem waiting to happen, will replace with new wire, should I buy a new socket piece, or just solder new wire to pin on socket base....Fred

[Young Ed]

Fred I was able to buy new inserts for the sockets for cheap. The one pictured was a dash light bulb but I did the same for all the lights. Not all are installed yet but thats another story...

[Young Ed]

oops didn't look at my own picture close enough. the right 2 sockets go with the box. The left one is probably what you need. I should be able to get you a napa # if you need.

[BobT-47P15]

I bought new socket bases at O'Reilly when changing from one contact to

two to allow use of turn signal flashers. Used the original holders, of

course.

[Young Ed]

I also found a wiring insert that will fit in my stock tail light socket and convert from 1 filament bulb to 2 filaments.

[55 Fargo]

Ed, bought the new insert at Canadian Tire today, NAPA in my area didn't have any.

Infact they had all type of inserts,sockets, they even had sockets that ould mount sideways in the park light housings, I may change those too.

It works fine, though only problem was the wrie is only about 16 to 18 g, not 14 as it should be.

This should be okay for 1 bulb I would imagine?

[Young Ed]

I cut mine fairly short and figured it would be ok for that little distance with the proper size wire for the rest of the run.