Brake/Tail

[KlaasyT]

Hi, anyone have tail and brake light issues? I regularly have my rear lights stop working. It usually starts with the left brake,then the right and finally the tail lights. All I have to do to get them working is pull the lense,remove the bulb,reinstall same bulb and all is well for a day or two. I have changed bulbs anyway, cleaned contacts and sockets. Bulbs are snug when installed. I've added additional ground wire to the housing. Bulbs are the euro type with correct wattage as indicated in the housing. Some times I just have to touch one bulb and everything comes back. It seems like maybe the alloy housing oxidizes in the socket making the contact bad. I've tried using dielectric grease but it did not help.
Any ideas would be great! I can't count how many times I have taken those lenses off!
Thanks, Clarence

[real550A]

I would have gone after the ground issue, as you already have. With clean sockets and good ground, it's time to check the springs in the bottom of the sockets to insure upward pressure, then start checking wires for cracks.
Sounds like you've localized it to the sockets, now just to fix it!
Best of luck, and post the solution when you find it.

[WCB4]

I was having the same trouble this spring while I was trying to get my 71 ready for Sonoma. As it turned out after many hours of looking. An intermitant ground inside the sealed part of the socket. This part of the taillight is not supposed to be serviced. I carefully pried the tangs back, soddered the ground. And used one of the Seven Wonders of the World, JB weld to seal and to hold in place. The lights all still work the car dose not. Oh and this only applies to the 69's and up I belive.
Bill

[KlaasyT]

Thanks for the replies I'll have to take the housings out again and go over every wire and contact again. It's my daily driver for the summer so I need to resolve this.
Thanks
Clarence

[dogLeg]

Did you ever resolve? Having the same issue. Thanks.

[37yrold911]

gnds & then bend the contact out a little - use dieletric grease

[Haasman]

I also had a myriad of light problems and almost all were related to not enough tension on the center bulb contact(s). I used an old dentist pick with a 90 degree end and tensioned them, little bit at a time.

If the bulb doesn't have enough tension on it, its little metal ears won't be held tightly in the bulb socket leading to loose and intermittent connections.

And of course, never do this when there is electricity going from the bulb housings .... or you might also have to replace the fuses.

Finally, I wouldn't use Dielectric grease. It is a non-conductive silicone grease. I think you are looking for conductive grease..

[37yrold911]

the grease will be wiped off every where that the metal pieces touch so no problem