| FAQ |
| Members List |
| Social Groups |
| Calendar |
| Search |
| Today's Posts |
|
#1
05-05-2022, 01:02 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Tail Light Sockets
Does anyone have any recommendations on keeping the darn bulb sockets from falling out of the tail light housings? I have a couple that I'm constantly having to reinsert back into the housing after they fall out.
They don't appear to lock in any way and are just an interference fit. Clearly after 53 years that interference fit isn't actually interference anymore. I'd love to hear what you guys are doing here. Thanks!
__________________
-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
|
#2
05-05-2022, 01:22 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I thought it was just me/my car.
__________________
- Mike  '69 Firebird 400 - Goldenrod Yellow, 455 +.060, '6s-7' heads, Comp Cam 276AH-10 (51-309-4), TH400, Ford 9-inch w/3.08, 800cfm Q-jet, Stock Intake, Hooker Headers, Flowmasters '68 Coronet 500 Convertible - Medium Gold Metallic, stock 318 +100,000 miles |
|
#3
05-05-2022, 02:12 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I'm thinking about a light bead of gray RTV. Not enough to make it a royal pain in the butt to pull back out and clean when bulb replacement is necessary, but enough to keep them stuck in place.
__________________
-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
|
#4
05-05-2022, 03:19 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Mine don't fall off easily, but they seem to lose their electrical connection occasionally.
__________________
- Mike '69 Firebird 400 - Goldenrod Yellow, 455 +.060, '6s-7' heads, Comp Cam 276AH-10 (51-309-4), TH400, Ford 9-inch w/3.08, 800cfm Q-jet, Stock Intake, Hooker Headers, Flowmasters '68 Coronet 500 Convertible - Medium Gold Metallic, stock 318 +100,000 miles |
|
#5
05-05-2022, 07:17 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Mine don’t lose the electrical connection. The bulb will still be on when the socket falls out of the housing. It’ll just be sitting there on the trunk floor, shining away.
__________________
-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
|
#6
05-05-2022, 08:10 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I've been having this same problem, one bulb in particular. Either it comes disconnected from the ground wire in place and fails to light or falls out inside the trunk(but not lit due to not touching the ground). Mine is a new repop harness. I'm interested to hear how anybody fixed this
__________________
Chris D 69 GTO Liberty Blue/dark blue 467, 850 Holley, T2, Edelbrock Dport 310cfm w Ram Air manifolds, HFT 245/251D .561/.594L, T400, 9" w 3.50s 3905lbs 11.59@ 114, 1.57/ 60' |
|
#7
05-05-2022, 09:39 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I had one that was always giving me trouble. I used some small smooth jaw needle nose pliers and VERY lightly tweaked one of the spring clips. I pulled the spring clip out from center, not pulling up on the tab as if to straighten it. My caution with this would be that if they're the original socket they may be a bit brittle. I also used some fine emery cloth on the contacts. My thinking on that was it might give a little tooth to hold in the lamp housing. I wouldn't recommend getting too rough with that but a little extra friction was what I was going for. Seemed to work. Good luck!
__________________
1968 Firebird IAIIa 522 340 E-heads Northwind with XFlow TBI 4L80E 3.50:1 Rear 
|
|
#8
05-06-2022, 11:32 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
My sockets have been replaced as the originals had all but fallen apart. The spring clips on them are plastic, so no real luck with being able to pry on them a bit.
__________________
-Jason 1969 Pontiac Firebird |
|
#9
05-07-2022, 10:43 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
There are a few part numbers in here for new sockets. I believe I used Ford ones on my car several years ago.
https://www.camaros.net/threads/rear...socket.100913/ |
| Reply |
|
|
The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.
Linear Mode
