Trying to resurrect a 63 SS after a 27 year sleep. Finding 3out of 4 headlights not working due to some sort of film or ? on and in the sockets. Some taillights to but their easy. The headlight sockets are impossible to clean. I'm thinking of soaking them in some thing like CLR thinking that may eat up the corrosion or whatever it is. I'm also afraid it may be to strong.I'd rather not pigtail on new sockets as we are trying to keep this 409 as original as possible. Anybody got any secrets or ideas. Help.Ralphie
Post some good pics of the plugs. Most of the plugs have a release that lets the terminal come out. Then you can see what your doing or change the terminals and nobody will know.
I've use the fine valve grinding compound on them...slide them in and out, then rinsed with brakekleen.
DeoxIT electrical contact cleaner. http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f Damn near miraculous stuff.
Should be GM 59 series terminals, if you've got enough wire length just replace the ends. Probably cheaper places to get them but here are some- https://www.amazon.com/25-M-Electrical-Terminals-Female/dp/B0178UX4WU Easy to get apart with a terminal tool or a opened up cotter pin.
The factory used a form of grease on head and taillight sockets. Clean with a soft wire brush and brake clean. The metal terminals can be replaced if their junk. The plastic should clean. How could are would anyone check this to see if was original are not?
Rule #1, don't overthink it. Anyone remember "Tarn-X"? They used to clean an old penny with a quick dip on the commercial. Guess what, it works! Br*** contacts in that plug, dip it (about 1/2 way up the plug, stay off the wire connection), rinse it, blow it dry, spray some protectant on it and move on to the next job. I've done it on 6-figure Packard models and never looked back. I still see it in the stores nown then.
My ref. Was to use new proper terminals crimped with the proper crimp tool. I don't use blue but splices.
Small screwdriver inserted in the socket will release the blade that the wiring is attached to, clean the blade well, bend the like prong back up that you depressed taking it apart, reinsert blade, it will click into place. Repeat process several more times. I have had to do it many, many times. And like it has been said, a little dielectric grease will perfect reoccurance.
Also check the bulk head connector on the firewall, sometimes the connections there will get pretty gnarly. KK
Also good for cleaning noisy switches and volume controls on radios and stereo equipment. Keeps the switches and bulb contacts in your old flashlights working good too.
Sometimes you will get a sticky green stuff, which will come off with contact cleaner. If it is corrosion, you need to get back to good metal to work properley again. If it's corrosion, maybe try soaking in vinegar for a while, rinse, and dry . Go and raid your gal's nail files, grab one of the thin ones, grind it the same width as the pins that go into the sockets, and shove it into the socket to clean up the contact faces.
36 Roadster,I like the nail file idea, I wish I had thought of that!!! By the way, my 21 year old Grandson leaves for Oz on Wednesday, got a Visa teaching surfing. He lives in the mountains of M***achusetts, go figure these young people, where there's a will there's a way. Thanks Ralphie
...watch out for the corrosion, sometimes it'll work it's way up into the wires and you could still have problems down the line
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