GM rear light socket

rick-l · 05-16-2009, 03:11 PM

Does this happen to anyone else? See how the wire is burned on the turn signal element of the bulb. In the unfocused picture you can see the corresponding burn on the socket. I can get it to work but I don't think it will last long. Any suggestions? Of course the socket is potted on the back and goes into a long wire harness.

This is on a 2007 Chevy Colorado. It has happened to bulbs on both sides now.

peppy · 05-16-2009, 03:14 PM

My VW did this with the headlights. I had to replace the socket.

rick-l · 05-18-2009, 06:53 AM

Does anyone know of a way I could read this GM Technical Service Bulletin?

Quote:

Subject:Front Park/Turn Signal/DRL or Rear Stop/Turn Signal/Tail Lamp/Light Inoperative (Replace Bulb and Inspect Socket) #06-08-42-004B - (06/19/2006)

Zeke · 05-18-2009, 07:16 AM

I had a problem like that. I had somehow gotten too high a wattage. Got the lower wattage version of the same lamp and all is well after a couple of years of messing around. Too many lamps look the same.

rick-l · 05-18-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

I had a problem like that. I had somehow gotten too high a wattage. Got the lower wattage version of the same lamp and all is well after a couple of years of messing around. Too many lamps look the same.

These are all the original bulbs.

I am pretty convinced this is a poorly thought out design whose major feature is it saved GM 5 cents per car.

Zeke · 05-18-2009, 08:30 AM

Well the difference between a 3057 and a 3157 is 2 watts on the tail light side. I had too high a wattage on the brake light side and when I'd sit at a stop light with the brake pedal down. I'd burn my sockets just like yours.

I can't help more than that, but if your car has ever been serviced or repaired, it's a thought.

onewhippedpuppy · 05-18-2009, 08:40 AM

Maybe clean the socket with emery cloth, lube with dielectric silicone, and replace the bulb? That might help if it's a corrosion issue.

rick-l · 05-18-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Maybe clean the socket with emery cloth, lube with dielectric silicone, and replace the bulb? That might help if it's a corrosion issue.

Corrosion in a two year old truck? Just out of warranty of course.

This thread is a GM rant and I want to see if there is a hidden recall to replace the 6 sockets in the back and the 2 in the front. I think all of these will fail eventually.

onewhippedpuppy · 05-18-2009, 09:50 AM

It has to be a legit recall for them to pick up the bill since you're out of warranty. TSB won't help you. If it were me, I'd try the emory cloth clean and dielectric grease. The emory cloth will remove any corrosion, the grease will improve contact and keep it from corroding again. It's worked for me on a number of older cars with corroded sockets.

rick-l · 05-18-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

It has to be a legit recall for them to pick up the bill since you're out of warranty. TSB won't help you. If it were me, I'd try the emory cloth clean and dielectric grease. The emory cloth will remove any corrosion, the grease will improve contact and keep it from corroding again. It's worked for me on a number of older cars with corroded sockets.

These sockets depend on a point contact of metal and nothing short of replacing the bulb and socket will be a long term fix (or at least repeat the less than satisfactory life cycle).

edit: You have never gone into a service department armed with facts and being reasonable but pissed and got them to fix something in a newer car?

onewhippedpuppy · 05-18-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

These sockets depend on a point contact of metal and nothing short of replacing the bulb and socket will be a long term fix (or at least repeat the less than satisfactory life cycle).

edit: You have never gone into a service department armed with facts and being reasonable but pissed and got them to fix something in a newer car?

If you clean the metal and grease the socket, you've eliminated the current corrosion and inhibited future corrosion.

No, I haven't. When it comes to a GM dealer, hell no I haven't. My wife's Cadillac SRX AWD had a clunk when on/off power at about 65. I came armed with a stack of info on the issue, including the new PN low-lash center differential that was designed to fix it. First they lied to me and told me it had the newer center diff PN (it didn't, I checked). Then the service manager finally rode with me in the car and acknowledged the problem. You know what he offered me? They would tear down the diff and inspect it. If it was out of tolerance, they would replace it. If it was in tolerance, I would pay for all of their labor. The problem was a center diff that had too much gear lash BY DESIGN, so of course I'm sure the center diff would have checked out fine. This was on a Cadillac that was $45k new and STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. I even tried a different dealership with similar results. If it's a complex issue and there's not a TSB, you're SOL with these morons. I sent a nasty letter to the dealership and Cadillac then sold the damn thing. One of the many reasons I feel no pity for GM's current situation.

So give it a shot, but I doubt they give a rat's ass about your light issue.

ErVikingo · 05-18-2009, 12:30 PM

Look at most Chevy Avlanches out there and you'll see that the DRL's are usually only on one side. The same problem as you see in your plug.

I clean mine every 6 months or so and they keep on working (even with dielectric grease). The plastic on the plugs gets brittle and WILL break (trust me

)

chapo · 05-18-2009, 06:42 PM

Love this stuff. Happens on an American car and its poor quality, happens on a Porsche its regular maintenance and the owner should know better. As the owner of a 740il I can tell you all about german engineering. Porsche ever make a main seal that didn't leak?The new ones leak like sieves, 6 different part replacements. How about the upper intake water leak on Porsches flagship SUV? Its only $2800 at the dealer to fix a 70k suv.

onewhippedpuppy · 05-18-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapo

Love this stuff. Happens on an American car and its poor quality, happens on a Porsche its regular maintenance and the owner should know better. As the owner of a 740il I can tell you all about german engineering. Porsche ever make a main seal that didn't leak?The new ones leak like sieves, 6 different part replacements. How about the upper intake water leak on Porsches flagship SUV? Its only $2800 at the dealer to fix a 70k suv.

At least German cars are great to drive.

Want reliable? Buy something from the Japanese.