Topic: Front turn signal bulbs

[Horsman]

I have replaced many bulbs in my life but for some reason the 1157a for the front signals will not twist inside the socket. Challenged several of my car buddies to give it a shot with no success, they get up from my garage floor shaking their heads and hand the bulb back to me.  I can push the contacts inward with my finger so I know the bulb is going in far enough, added some bulb grease on the posts and contacts but no luck.

Has anyone run into this?

[carlite65]

yep.....check the positions of the projections on the sides of the bulbs. all bulbs are not equal.

[Coralsnake]

Definitely, a bugger. You may need to file the lead nubs a little.

[69GT350H]

Definitely, a bugger. You may need to file the lead nubs a little.

Ive had to do this with many of the new 1157 bulbs. Stand it straight up on a piece of sandpaper and take a little off till it turns into the socket.

[ruppstang]

Yes sand the contacts a bit at a time as others have said. I like to use a short piece of heater hose to push and twist the bulb in. I get a bit scared pushing that hard on a glass bulb with my bare fingers. 

[jwc66k]

I had a similar problem with 631 bulbs that are used for 64-69 under dash courtesy lights. They would not fit. I determined the problem was the taper of metal base to the bulb. The bulbs' specifications indicate a straight base to bulb, the taper will not allow the bulb to seat. I pointed this fit problem out to NPD and they chose to ignore it.
Jim

[Brian Conway]

Pictures of the 631 bulb and what Jim is talking about.  Check your replacement bulb configuration against your original bulb ?  Brian

[jwc66k]

Thank you Brian.
Jim

[Horsman]

Filed the nubs and did the heater hose trick, success!

Thanks for the great responses guys.

[Bossbill]

For anyone else having this issue, see if the rubber on the back side of the socket assembly is rock hard. The inside of the socket has springs behind the electrical contacts. The contacts have to move back into the socket along with the contact holder during bulb insertion. In other words, it's spring loaded so the contacts are pressed against the bulb.
If the rubber on the back side gets hard due to age the wire and contacts can't move back and it becomes almost impossible to insert a bulb. The rubber has to act like a bellows to allow wire movement.

[edit: clean up last sentence. I'm an editor at heart]

[rocnhrse]

I agree  with  bossbill,I took a 10 mm long socket and  made sure there was movement in  the base of the socket, make sure you  disconnect the battery first

[Bossbill]

Don't even get me started on the Drake repro. Why get to 80% and then screw up the rest?