light sockets

[p24-1953]

i am having a intermitant problems with my tail lights. they will dim untill you touch the base of the socket. it seems that they are not making good contact in the socket. is there a common replacement part? or can the originals be repaired? the black base no longer has enough springy-ness to constantly maintain good contact, i think

[Jim Saraceno]

I would certainly think new sockets would be available at a parts store. I would get the number off your bulb and give them a call. They were pretty much standard for most vehicles.

[desoto1939]

Try this to see if it is a grounding issue. Take an aligator clip with a pice of wire attached to the clip and attache this to the socket or the braket that holds the socket. The attach the other end of the wire with another alligator clip to some good bare metal on the frame.

If the lights brighten up then you have a grounding issue. Permanently attach a wire to the braket or the light socket and then attach to a good bare metal point on the frame.

Alwasy check for grounding especially when you have a 6volt system and or even 12v system.

Let us know if this works

rich

desoto1939@aol.com

[greg g]

You can buy the new inserts with the springs and connector wires from any auto pars store. They basically just slip out after the wires are disconnected.

[kfxinsd007]

It is called a pigtail.

[BobT-47P15]

And, are your light bulbs single or double filament (one or two contact points in the

base). If one, you can't go wrong. If two, sometimes you have to make sure both

things are lined up.

I think there is a spring under the fiberboard disc inside the socket.....sometimes that

spring gets weak from age......might try stretching the spring. Also is the contact

point nice and clean with no crud buildup - doesn't hurt to clean both base and bulb

contacts. And the stem of the bulb plus inside of the entire socket......you can use

some steel wool or light sandpaper.

Is there paint on the body of the car where the sockets make contact

for their ground. Might be sure there is clean ground there.

[Plymouthy Adams]

your units are twist and lock models if I remember correct, these units need to be very clean and rust/corrosion free..also your light sockets are mounted to the body itself and thus the lamp base to the body must also be a good ground bond.

Clean these units up with a good stainless steel tootbrush commonly known as a TIG brush in the welding industry..most all weld supply shops have these...or any other mild abrasive..say a foam sanding block drywall folks are know to use..these are great as they are foarm and will bend twist and take shape to the object they are pressed against.

Last resort, try jumpering a good ground from your lamp base to body at some point nearby that is equally clean