tech tip for intermittant headlight troubles

this applies if you have a bad connection in a headlight socket causing one of your headlights to come on and go off, say when you hit a bump for instance.

before you replace the socket (which would require making a trip to the parts house and making 3 splices in the headlight wiring when you get home) try putting a slight twist in the prongs of your headlight bulb with a pair of pliers first. usually cures the problem in a matter of a minute or two, depending on how long it takes you to gain access to the back of the bulb.

 

You can also slip one (or more) small pieces of aluminm foil into the socket or over the prongs on the headlight and click 'em back together....(you could CLEAN the prongs on the bulb too while yer there....)

Jersey Skip

 

Also on the same topic most headlight problems can be traced to a defective dimmer switch. Say you are driving along at night and suddenly your headlights go out. Hit your dimmer switch and they come on again. Ta da!

 

another tip to clean connectors is to use valve grinding compound. put some in one side of the connector, connect the two then disconnect, reconnect over and over. when done (and contacts are clean) clean out compound and put in some dielectric grease.

 

Atch, that's a good tip on tweaking the headlight prongs to make the plug stay tight. Maybe you can help me with a problem I've had. On both roadsters I've owned the heat within the headlight bucket has melted the three prong connector. Once juice starts jumping from high to low beam all sorts of strange scenarios start happening. I changed out the plugs ( had to cut and splice into my wiring) and it happened again but not immediately. I finally drilled some small air holes in the bottom of the buckets and that seemed to solve the problem. The old buckets, especially the ones with parking lights are getting scarce and expensive. I hate to drill holes in them. Friends have had similar problems with lights in buckets. We are all using over the counter three prong connectors. Do any of you know of high quality three prong female sockets that can withstand the heat? I drive my rods alot and usually have the lights on day or night. Sam

 

For better quality plastic, go snip out an OEM socket at the junkyard, weasel out the ancient contacts, and snap in the ones from your wiring. You may just have heat from the confined bulbs, or you may have excess resistance. Be sure the contact terminals are br*** and that wiring is adequate size.

 

Hey Sam.......believe it or not, that heat is usually generated by a bad connection, usually due to corrosion at the connection. A thorough cleaning with a wire brush and a liberal application of dielectric grease will generally make the problem go away. I doubt the problem has anything to do with the confines of a headlight bucket. Hell, even 50's and 60's cars have very limited space in the headlight bucket behind the sealed beam.
As far as drilling a hole in the bottom of the bucket? I'd say it's a dandy idea so the rain/wash water has a way to get out.
Dielectric grease is our friend but if you still have trouble with the plastic melting, I'd hit the salvage yards for OEM bakelite connector insulators......