C3 74, extra tail light socket?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
C3 74, extra tail light socket?
so I crawl under the back end. There is a new back tail piece, must have been hit in the rear previously, there are two tail lights per side....there are 3 sockets per side??? What’s with that? There’s is no place to put them....there just hanging there, two wires to them, not sure what they do yet....but there’s no place to plug them in?
HELP!
HELP!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
3 sockets
no i don't think so, I know the original owner of this care and the second, who was a young fellow who ended up in a wheel chair, so it sat since 1999. the wiring is original. But why is there 3 sockets? If i need to , ill call and ask him if he changed teh rear tail light wiring , but its highly unlikely.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,948
Likes: 4,506
From: Virginia
I see two wires. My guess is those are the original backup light sockets, and a PO ran an extra socket in parallel to the brake/turn/tail light on each side to get the 1968-style lights. That is exactly what is under my car now, I haven't cut the sockets and spliced in LED backup lights yet.
The wire color should coinfirm.
The wire color should coinfirm.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 520
From: McClellandtown, Pa.
Original '74 tailight lenses did not have the two mounting screws visible on the outside. They were mounted in the bumper covers from the rear. I see in your pictures that there are long metal(?) screws coming thru the new bumper cover. It seems that the PO installed later tailight lenses that mount from the outside on the car. '75 lenses mounted from the outside so screws would be visible, the bumper covers changed in '75 to a one piece from a '74 two piece. Maybe this has something to do with the extra original white bulb socket wire? . One would think there would be four white socket wires hanging back there though. Maybe if you check more closely you'll find that they might have cut one original wire on each side and then spliced into it with the new black plastic bulb sockets. Sort of what"bikespace" is thinking above!
Just some food for thought!
Tooch
Just some food for thought!
Tooch
Last edited by Tooch1; May 24, 2018 at 07:38 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I believe that Bikespace is correct.
Some took out the REVERSE lights and wired in sockets so the car has TWO turn signals/brake lights pre side.
From what I can see in the photo. The INNER lights have 3 wires on this that would confirm this.
DUB
Some took out the REVERSE lights and wired in sockets so the car has TWO turn signals/brake lights pre side.
From what I can see in the photo. The INNER lights have 3 wires on this that would confirm this.
DUB
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
H-m-m-m-m-m-. Some model / yrs had a courtesy spare tire carrier light also. It was tied in with the rear cargo area light.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; May 28, 2018 at 06:55 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I know that 1980-1982's have it but I can not remember if a 1978 and 1979's did also.
Anyway..the light socket is not in the above photo and has an ORANGE and WHITE wire in the socket and takes a 194 bulb.
DUB