Looking for a wiring guru

[steddy]

Mornin' all, hoping someone can help out here. On my '96 Firebird tailight assembly (pass side) the inboard 1157 light (there are two in each housing)will light up only one filament when the marker lights are off and the brake is applied, but then goes out when the running lights are on and the brake is applied. If it's just the socket, that'll be no big deal, but I'm not quite sure and wouldn't want to throw away the time ordering if it doesn't cure the problem. As far as I can see (up to the harness assembly, all wires are physically ok. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Tom Rs]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

sounds just like a bad bulb. one of the filaments burnt out. Switch it out and post back up

[steddy]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

Just did. Same thing happens with a different bulbe. What it's doing is lighting the single filament only when the brakes are applied. When the lights are on, however, the light goes out when the brakes are applied

[RadRacer]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

Bad ground

[steddy]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

Ok, I'll do a search and see if I can chase it. If not, I'll just find a new spot for it. Thanks all for the help!

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

So basically what you're saying is the brighter of the two filaments isn't working? It could be the socket. I would test the sockets, as well as the grounds to start.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

This happened with me on my '96 bird. The brighter filament just wouldn't light at all, and would occasionally go out in fact. Went through three bulbs checking it, finally just got a replacement socket, wired it up and I haven't had the problem since, and that was 2 yrs ago...

[nascar24jd]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

It is the socket, replace it.

[blindeyed]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

I'm going to have to agree with it being the socket. Happened to mine a while back. My left blinker stop blinking (just stayed solid). Traced it back to the rear drivers side tail light. One of the bulbs wouldn't light up properly. Tried changing it out several times to no avail. Finally just took the socket apart, and saw that the negative terminal inside was corroded almost completely. Took out that terminal (along with about 2 inches of wire thats attached, replaced it with another one I had, spliced the wires back together and viola. Your best bet is to just buy a new socket from an auto parts store, and splice it in. You've already done the hard part of finding the bad socket, so the rest should be easy going.

[Firebirdkid96]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

BE FOREWARNED THOUGH.

I got my replacement socket at an Advance Auto Parts and It was very strange. The socket actually goes in at a different angle, so that when it is locked in place, it doesn't face the wires down like the OEM GM/Delco version. These sockets point the wires at a strange 135 degree angle up. It's very awkward. If I had the choice, I'd go OEM replacement, but that's just me.

[nascar24jd]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

I got mine from a local U-Pull-It Junk Yard. I cut about 8 of them from a few Firebirds and they charged me about $4 for all of them.

[steddy]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

Thanks to all who answered. I think I'll go ahead and grab a new socket. Certainly wouldn't hurt. I appreciate the insight on this.:tup:

[steddy]

Re: Looking for a wiring guru

As expected, the light gremlin has been flushed from the car. Thanks one more time to those who responded. Many, many thanks.