What Am I Doing Wrong?!

[2B32]

When I bought my truck it did not have reverse light bulbs in it. I bought 1156 bulbs to install, but they wont fit. They will slide down, but they will not twist to lock in place. If I remove the spring and connector at the bottom the bulb will slide in and twist into place, but it will not twist into place with the spring and connector in place.

I took the entire bracket to the parts store to make sure I had the right bulbs, which I do. And, I tried a new spring and connector, which didn't work either.

What am I doing wrong? Why wont these new bulbs seat into the backup light bracket?

[71swb4x4]

The pins are off-set, do you have it in the right way? Those sockets can be mildly difficult over time too, try lubing them up a little.
I have struggled with those 45 year old sockets before. Usually I get frustrated, go work on something else, and come back over and then that darn bulb goes right in like it's supposed to. It's a mixed feeling, so happy I got it done, but I wonder what the heck I was doing the first time that didn't work.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

The pins are off-set, do you have it in the right way? Those sockets can be mildly difficult over time too, try lubing them up a little.
I have struggled with those 45 year old sockets before. Usually I get frustrated, go work on something else, and come back over and then that darn bulb goes right in like it's supposed to. It's a mixed feeling, so happy I got it done, but I wonder what the heck I was doing the first time that didn't work.

Shawn, the pins on 1157 bulbs are off-set. The ones on his 1156 bulbs are straight across.

If the bulbs are not name brand bulbs they may be made wrong. You could try filing down the lead bead on the end of the bulb. Just don't get too carried away....

LockDoc

[toolboxchev]

I had to clean mine up with a battery wire brush, pull the old contact and spring assembly and replace it with new.

Works great now, 46 years of corrosion in there will not help things.

[Stocker]

It's possible the sockets might be too far gone to salvage, and will need to be replaced. After going years with no front parking lamps due to bad sockets, I finally bit the bullet and replaced the lamps. But not until I tried everything I could think of to get the original lamps working.

[2B32]

Well, I tried everything I could think of, cleaning the socket, grinding the lead, removing the spring, and nothing worked so I ordered replacements. I still for the life of me can't figure out why it wont work....

[Benny-]

I sprayed pb blaster in mine to loosen them up and they eventually started working right.