Rear light bulb holders - keeps dropping bulb.

[Top drive]

Is there a regular quid fix for a loose bulb before I go make something up. do I have to replace the carrier ? 

Frequently have the passenger brake/rear light go out an then give it a chap with my fist and it all works. 

When you open it and look it's clearly loose in the holder

[jj9]

Try bending the metal contacts that press on the contacts at the bottom of the bulb up a little with a hook shaped piece of wire.

You could also try and bend the connectors that engage with the pins on the side of the bulb slightly.


Check it's not the element in the bulb as they can break loose but still make an intermittent contact.


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[Top drive]

I've tried all that and several bulbs.

It's the plastic bit where the lugs go in that's all mashed up. Previous owner was a hash it seems

[geoff]

I find the pins on modern bulbs to be shorter and more rounded on the end than those made in days of yore such that they create a less positive location in the bulb holder. Couple this with soft plastic, heat, vibration, a bulb holder that isn't too distinct in which way to orientate a bulb, a hamfisted car owner and you end up with what appears to be a common problem.

On my last van after squeezing the sides of the bulb holder together which helped somewhat I tried a bulb from a 1950's vehicle and the problem went away as the pins were longer and squarer.

[jj9]

Sounds like the previous owner may have been one of those talented people who can somehow manage to get a tail and stop bulb in the wrong way even though the pins on the side of the bulb are offset to stop that happening. 

Maybe you can bodge I mean engineer something to hold the bulb secure.   


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[Top drive]

shall investigate bodges if the valve timing goes ok today

[cancunia]

Best of luck with the shims, but it looks like you have all the gear so hopefully luck won't be needed. Just a thought, can you wrap some foil around the bulb to hold it in tighter?

[Top drive]

i went with fitting the bulb and wrapping a cable tie tightly round the whole thing.

Seems to be holding far better than my other attempts.