Electrical gremlin
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 3,598
From: Commerce Texas
Electrical gremlin
Ten - 14 days ago my right turn indicator "notified" me of a non-functioning right-side bulb.
Turned out it was the inside right REAR not working properly.
I replaced bulb even though bulb did not appear blown. New bulb did not blow but did not work - I continued to "fool" with it and it began working properly....
So, went on my way...
Last week I again got the indication a right-side bulb wasn't working. Anticipated it would be right rear: nope. Right front - no DRL, no turn.
Replaced bulb - worked a day... out again. Any thoughts?
Turned out it was the inside right REAR not working properly.
I replaced bulb even though bulb did not appear blown. New bulb did not blow but did not work - I continued to "fool" with it and it began working properly....
So, went on my way...
Last week I again got the indication a right-side bulb wasn't working. Anticipated it would be right rear: nope. Right front - no DRL, no turn.
Replaced bulb - worked a day... out again. Any thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,627
Problem is in the bulb sockets.
There is wide section one side, and a narrow section the other side. Its the narrow section that the prong will heat fold away from the center of the socket, and not make contact with the bulb tombstone wire.
So the fix is very easy,
Go in with a pick tool, get past the L top piece, and bend the inner small prong out more toward the center of the socket. Now hit the socket with some spray contact cleaner to clean up the prongs, then go on the heaver side with some dielectric (silicone) grease in the socket both sides before you reinstall the bulbs. The dielectric grease will help not only to keep the cleaned prongs from corroding again, but works as a heat transfer paste to help pull some of the heat away from the prong as well (so it does not bend back out again to loose contact with the bulb tombstone wires).
There is wide section one side, and a narrow section the other side. Its the narrow section that the prong will heat fold away from the center of the socket, and not make contact with the bulb tombstone wire.
So the fix is very easy,
Go in with a pick tool, get past the L top piece, and bend the inner small prong out more toward the center of the socket. Now hit the socket with some spray contact cleaner to clean up the prongs, then go on the heaver side with some dielectric (silicone) grease in the socket both sides before you reinstall the bulbs. The dielectric grease will help not only to keep the cleaned prongs from corroding again, but works as a heat transfer paste to help pull some of the heat away from the prong as well (so it does not bend back out again to loose contact with the bulb tombstone wires).
