Taillights come and go (no not the turnsignal)

[acl]

My son's 68 has a taillight/brake light that comes and goes.The wires are fine, no breaks or bare spots, but i think he has issues with the socket. We have cleaned it and the bulb up and works for a while and off again. If you wiggle it it comes and goes as well. I have not found a place to just buy a socket and wires to splice in. Is there a socket"tightening" trick or anything else to try before replacing the whole fixture? Thanks

[Mayo]

My 68 does the exact same thing

[Andy4639]

I have cut some thin sheet metal to slip over the bulb and then insert it. The socket of the fixture will let the bulb move around while driving. Cut a small peice of sheet metal and slip it inside the socket to tighten it up.

[acl]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I have cut some thin sheet metal to slip over the bulb and then insert it. The socket of the fixture will let the bulb move around while driving. Cut a small peice of sheet metal and slip it inside the socket to tighten it up.

Down between the bulb and sidewall of the socket? Or the bulb and the base of the socket? both??

[Andy4639]

Down the sides of the bulb so there is no movement of the bulb when you hit bumps. It doesn't take a lot just enough to wedge in so it sit's good and tight.

[ChevLoRay]

Lisle (get them at NAPA) makes a tool (a brush) that fits down into the sockets of these trucks (okay, any bayonet-style bulb) that cleans (corrosion) the socket and the contactors in the socket. When you push the bulb down into the socket, you should encounter some resistance, like a spring-loaded effect. I'm sure you already knew that. I have replaced the contactor in some trailer light assy's, but not in one of these trucks.

At 37+ years of age, I'd do everything possible to re-condition these factory assy's before replacing them, but if that what it took, it would be done.

[Kayotic]

I suppose I could be wrong but doesn't LMCTruck have sockets for you. (thumbing through paper catalog) Maybe not. I must have seen it for the led conversion. Sorry 'bout that. Well I am looking for wiring options for my truck, If I come accross anything I will put the info here.

The other Idea about a temp fix is a good one to make sure that is the problem.

I know I have an issue with my stering column - These trucks are electricaly picky. - Good Luck

[cdowns]

check where the taillight bucket mounts to the bed to assure a good ground// also running a ground strap for the bed to the frame helps for proper operation of the rear lights

[tim21391]

make sure you got two bolts in the tail light assembly... i only had one in my driver side and it didnt ground right and it made all my lights go whacko

[sick69]

I would pull the assembly out and clean the whole thing up really well,,,,backside of the socket, back of the housing,inside of the bed, the plug portion os the socket, everything! Make sure you use dielectric grease between the housing and the bed and make sure the screws holding the housing to the bed are good and tight, make sure the lamp fits snug in the socket,blah blah you get the idea,,

If that doesn't work,,,,,,just replace the assembly. Most if not all the board venders should have them,, probably in stock.


Frank

[Andy4639]

If my memory is good these come apart from the wiring. Take the housing out and there should be a black rubber boot over the end of the wiring that it connects to the housing. This is cliped on to the housing with plastic clips made to the wiring harness. Clean everything up and reinstall.