My daughter keeps complaining that the tail-light bulbs in her Pontiac won't stay working. The bulbs are ok, but they get loose in their sockets and stop working. (She is away at college but should be coming home for a weekend soon.) Is there some sort of product, some "goop" that will hold the bulbs in place so I can solve this?
getting bulbs to seat properly and stay there
- Thread starter crw
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Maybe the sockets are bad?
If they are the brass base push in and turn to lock type you might try bending or deforming the socket a little to make a tighter fit. I have never seen the push in plastic type come loose.
Some good ideas, thanks. I have a 1986 F-150 which, recently I had to replace a bulb. I found that the factory installation had the bulb wedged in some "wax" for lack of a better term, which kept the bulb in place despite the typically poor quality light bulb housing.
Originally Posted By: crw
Some good ideas, thanks. I have a 1986 F-150 which, recently I had to replace a bulb. I found that the factory installation had the bulb wedged in some "wax" for lack of a better term, which kept the bulb in place despite the typically poor quality light bulb housing.
The "wax" that Ford uses is dielectric grease, available at auto parts and electrical jobbers (on the circuit breaker aisle). It is creamy and takes years and years to harden to the state it is in on your '86 F-150.
Some good ideas, thanks. I have a 1986 F-150 which, recently I had to replace a bulb. I found that the factory installation had the bulb wedged in some "wax" for lack of a better term, which kept the bulb in place despite the typically poor quality light bulb housing.
The "wax" that Ford uses is dielectric grease, available at auto parts and electrical jobbers (on the circuit breaker aisle). It is creamy and takes years and years to harden to the state it is in on your '86 F-150.
Originally Posted By: Cardenio327
Originally Posted By: crw
Some good ideas, thanks. I have a 1986 F-150 which, recently I had to replace a bulb. I found that the factory installation had the bulb wedged in some "wax" for lack of a better term, which kept the bulb in place despite the typically poor quality light bulb housing.
The "wax" that Ford uses is dielectric grease, available at auto parts and electrical jobbers (on the circuit breaker aisle). It is creamy and takes years and years to harden to the state it is in on your '86 F-150.
Yeah, it was hardened. I had to break the bulb and remove the base with needle-nose pliers, then scrape out all of the "wax".
Originally Posted By: crw
Some good ideas, thanks. I have a 1986 F-150 which, recently I had to replace a bulb. I found that the factory installation had the bulb wedged in some "wax" for lack of a better term, which kept the bulb in place despite the typically poor quality light bulb housing.
The "wax" that Ford uses is dielectric grease, available at auto parts and electrical jobbers (on the circuit breaker aisle). It is creamy and takes years and years to harden to the state it is in on your '86 F-150.
Yeah, it was hardened. I had to break the bulb and remove the base with needle-nose pliers, then scrape out all of the "wax".
Originally Posted By: eljefino
If you kill the power you can get under the (wire) contacts in the socket and pry them outwards a little... for better electrical contact and for mechanical tightness.
Yup, and on some designs you can move the bulb wire a little away from the base to make contact.
If you kill the power you can get under the (wire) contacts in the socket and pry them outwards a little... for better electrical contact and for mechanical tightness.
Yup, and on some designs you can move the bulb wire a little away from the base to make contact.
You have to do a little thinking here. When you get the car hopefully the lights will not be working. Carefully gain access to the lights, without touching them. Turn them on. Now is your big chance to find out if the lamp is coming out of the socket or if the connection is poor. watch it carefully and gently wiggle it and push and turn it until it lights up. Then take the appropriate action.
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