Rear harness,socket bulb problem
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 391
Likes: 69
From: Toronto , Ontario
Rear harness,socket bulb problem
I,ve got a new L/L rear harness installed and yesterday one of the brake lamps was out. I tried to remove it and it just dosen,t move. I know it,s supose to twist and turn out but no way.I tried to reach underneath to wiggle the pigtail but my paws to big.Question 1. Are these new lamps just a bit bigger than the socket or the sockets just that tight.2. The pigtails do they just push and turn in from the rear into the sockets.3 I guess i will have to remove the valance to make room to remove the lamp assembly and get better access to see whats up between the pigtail ,socket holder and lamp. Any sugestions. Thanks Elio
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 8
From: Grosse Ile MI
I,ve got a new L/L rear harness installed and yesterday one of the brake lamps was out. I tried to remove it and it just dosen,t move. I know it,s supose to twist and turn out but no way.I tried to reach underneath to wiggle the pigtail but my paws to big.Question 1. Are these new lamps just a bit bigger than the socket or the sockets just that tight.2. The pigtails do they just push and turn in from the rear into the sockets.3 I guess i will have to remove the valance to make room to remove the lamp assembly and get better access to see whats up between the pigtail ,socket holder and lamp. Any sugestions. Thanks Elio
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 561
From: Macedonia Ohio
I had the same problem in my 65 after I bought new tail light assemblies. The outboard left hand assembly had the wrong socket in it. It was the same as the inboard tail light socket. I had to file down the "tit" on the bulb so it would "comperssion fit" to make the ground.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 391
Likes: 69
From: Toronto , Ontario
Stingrayl76, the bulb won,t move at all,in,out or turn.Woodsdesign i,ll try filing down the tit on the bulb once i remove it.Does the pigtail off the harness just push and turn into the socket from the back of the housing.I ask only because the shop installed the harness. Elio
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,347
Likes: 36
From: San Clemente CA
The connector on the back of the tail light assembly from the harness is also a push and twist connector like the bulb ( that is the part you see when the bulb is out. If that connector was put on and not twisted right, it could give you a the problem of not lighting and also jamming the bulb. Don't know whether you can get your hand up there. You may have to remove the valence to get to it from the back. I did mine when I was replacing my gas tank so access was easy.
Don
Don
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 447
From: NJ Hockey beer league
Remove the bulb before you try twisting the pigtail to get it straightened out. I had a similar problem with one of my new Trim Parts tail lights, bulb was put in wrong. Removed the lens and corrected it in less than 5 minutes. 
Pilot Dan
Pilot Dan
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
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From: Washington Michigan
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 391
Likes: 69
From: Toronto , Ontario
Thanks to all for your replies, the bulb is jammed and i don,t want to break it to dig out the bulb base.So i,ll do it the right way remove the valance and check each pigtail for proper install and file down the **** on the bulbs for smooth in and out removal.Do it now so next time if a bulb blows it,s a easy replacement. Thanks to all and happy fall driving. Elio
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 561
From: Macedonia Ohio
Elio,
Don't file the **** down too much. Just enough to give the bulb a tight compression fit. I came to the conclusion that Trim Parts installed the inboard socket on both tail lights. BTW my car has back up lights. Not sure if that will make a difference.
Don't file the **** down too much. Just enough to give the bulb a tight compression fit. I came to the conclusion that Trim Parts installed the inboard socket on both tail lights. BTW my car has back up lights. Not sure if that will make a difference.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
'63-'66 cars with backup lights use 2-contact bulb sockets (and bulbs) in the outboard lamps, and single-contact bulb sockets (and bulbs) in the inboard lamps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 391
Likes: 69
From: Toronto , Ontario
My 64 has no backup lights,all sockets and bulbs the same.Came home from work and tried to remove the bulb but it,s stuck in the socket so looks like i,ll remove valance on the weekend and do it the right way. Elio
