Turn signal bulb failure
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,997
Likes: 1
From: Life is a game/Golf is serious. IA
Turn signal bulb failure
I'm getting the rapid clicking noise when I turn on the right turn signal. It seems that one of the bulbs has failed in the front. (first one in 10 years) I don't see any screws holding the lense.
98 Coupe
Removal tips would be appreciated. TIA
98 Coupe
Removal tips would be appreciated. TIA
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Did you try a search????
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...nal+front+bulb
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...nal+front+bulb
Took longer to copy the links than find them.
Peter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...nal+front+bulb
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...nal+front+bulb
Took longer to copy the links than find them.
Peter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 2
From: Houston Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Or if you have skinny hands you can just push the air vent to one side and reach around it and take out the bulb. If it has been ten years though, the top of your housing is most likely cracked from the bulb's heat and will need to be either replaced or repaired. If you don't, the first little amount of water that gets in there will find it's way through the cracks and shatter the bulb again! 
Good Luck!!
Good Luck!!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
3 approaches that depend on the length and girth of your forearms
1. long thin arms ... raise the headlights, remove the black plastic bezel around them reach in and down to find the bulb... standard socket .. depress the locking tab and turn to remove
2. short thin arms ... push in on the brake duct,, it is basically a plastic accordion tube, then push it down and out of the way . Reach in and up to find the bulb.... depress and turn.
3. thick arms.... put the car on ramps or jackstands remove the acess panel from below about 5 6 (or 7) mm screws. you will have clear access to the direction signals and fogs lights.
If the bulb burn out again shortly then you have the notorious cracked or leaking housing syndrome.
1. long thin arms ... raise the headlights, remove the black plastic bezel around them reach in and down to find the bulb... standard socket .. depress the locking tab and turn to remove
2. short thin arms ... push in on the brake duct,, it is basically a plastic accordion tube, then push it down and out of the way . Reach in and up to find the bulb.... depress and turn.
3. thick arms.... put the car on ramps or jackstands remove the acess panel from below about 5 6 (or 7) mm screws. you will have clear access to the direction signals and fogs lights.
If the bulb burn out again shortly then you have the notorious cracked or leaking housing syndrome.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Have you checked the housing to see if there is water getting in on the bulb? It seems fairly common for housings to develop cracks from the heat of the bulb.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Westport CT
After a rain soaked, flash-flooded, ponding, 125+ mile drive back home from track day at Pocono, the passenger side turn signal on my '99 went out.
Makes me wonder if the culprit is age (10 years, 52,000 miles), or water intrusion. I drive the car in the rain if left with no choice, but, nothing like I saw the other day. It was really coming down.
I've changed the driver's side fog light twice by going in behind the headlight bezel, so this shouldn't be too bad??
A little moisture can cause a premature end to the bulbs.Makes me wonder if the culprit is age (10 years, 52,000 miles), or water intrusion. I drive the car in the rain if left with no choice, but, nothing like I saw the other day. It was really coming down.
I've changed the driver's side fog light twice by going in behind the headlight bezel, so this shouldn't be too bad??
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Westport CT
Just to please clarify this second look-test by me this evening:
There is no light or flashing with hazards or right turn signal, passenger side.
The only light that works on the passenger side is the parking light which illuminates the side AND the front of the corners.
If I turn off the parking lights, the passenger side gets no light activity.
Does that make sense?
Does this mean the failure is the DLR bulb only, one filament? Someone mentioned in this, or a related post, the DLR bulb is a double filament bulb.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Yup, makes sense. Most likely the bulb. It is a dual filament and since the signal/DRL filament is the one on most of the time it is the one most likely to burn out. You need to test/change the bulb before convincing yourself there is a bigger problem.
I blew 3 or 4 bulbs during the summer when my housing cracked. Yes, I drive in the rain. I put the black outlined corner lights in the car. The completely clear ones seemed too plain to me. Look on that huge auction site for Depo C5 lights and you should find a few styles.
Peter
I blew 3 or 4 bulbs during the summer when my housing cracked. Yes, I drive in the rain. I put the black outlined corner lights in the car. The completely clear ones seemed too plain to me. Look on that huge auction site for Depo C5 lights and you should find a few styles.
Peter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Zahnd Indiana
LED beware. I just put Led's in my turn signals because the orange had cracked off my lights. The leds work fine, BUT one thing. The turn signs now click super fast like a bulb is out, probably because of the diffrence in watts being used....So I guess i'm going to switch the amber leds with the drls tomorrow. But i'm currently researching the led problem.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Westport CT
LED beware. I just put Led's in my turn signals because the orange had cracked off my lights. The leds work fine, BUT one thing. The turn signs now click super fast like a bulb is out, probably because of the diffrence in watts being used....So I guess i'm going to switch the amber leds with the drls tomorrow. But i'm currently researching the led problem.
What I've read so far, is that if you swop out the stock bulbs to LED's, the wire harness must be changed too. The new harness prevents the fast flash problem you are now getting.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The C5 flasher is actually a sophisticated piece. If the load on this flasher is reduced it will flash faster. This is supposed to warn you of a failed bulb. However, it creates a problem when LED's are used. This is the DIY fix.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1569256474-post64.html
There is a pre-made harness available that also does this. Hopefully someone can post up a link to it.
Peter
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1569256474-post64.html
There is a pre-made harness available that also does this. Hopefully someone can post up a link to it.
Peter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Perhaps. Would need to research and learn about...
Just to please clarify this second look-test by me this evening:
There is no light or flashing with hazards or right turn signal, passenger side.
The only light that works on the passenger side is the parking light which illuminates the side AND the front of the corners.
If I turn off the parking lights, the passenger side gets no light activity.
Does that make sense?
Does this mean the failure is the DLR bulb only, one filament? Someone mentioned in this, or a related post, the DLR bulb is a double filament bulb.
Just to please clarify this second look-test by me this evening:
There is no light or flashing with hazards or right turn signal, passenger side.
The only light that works on the passenger side is the parking light which illuminates the side AND the front of the corners.
If I turn off the parking lights, the passenger side gets no light activity.
Does that make sense?
Does this mean the failure is the DLR bulb only, one filament? Someone mentioned in this, or a related post, the DLR bulb is a double filament bulb.
http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/category.sc?categoryId=4
I also can point you in the right direction for the flasher harness.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Westport CT
I replaced passenger side this weekend. Took 15 minutes, tops.
I found a combination of going in throught the brake air duct, and also, down past the manually raised headlight with removed bezel worked for me.
As someone mentioned, you only need to nudge the accordion shaped portion of the brake duct down and away. The socket is right there above.
From there, twist the socket as discussed earlier, and gently pull the harness out, change the bulb, and replace.
I found once I tested the new bulb, it's easier to lock the thing in place going in from the top.
I wore rubber gloves to keep the oil on my fingers off the bulb.
I found a combination of going in throught the brake air duct, and also, down past the manually raised headlight with removed bezel worked for me.
As someone mentioned, you only need to nudge the accordion shaped portion of the brake duct down and away. The socket is right there above.
From there, twist the socket as discussed earlier, and gently pull the harness out, change the bulb, and replace.
I found once I tested the new bulb, it's easier to lock the thing in place going in from the top.
I wore rubber gloves to keep the oil on my fingers off the bulb.
