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Loose Tail Lights |
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davec1957
AMC Nut Joined: Jul/09/2010 Location: Massachusetts Status: Offline Points: 385 |
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Posted: Apr/07/2021 at 4:04pm |
The tail light sockets in my '70 AMX are occasionally coming out of the housing, usually after driving on a bumpy road. It has gotten progressively worse over the last 5 years. I've replaced the sockets, but the new ones don't stay in place any better than the originals. Anybody have a trick to get the 1157 sockets to stay in place even on a harsh road surface?
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1970 AMX Bayshore Blue 390 4-spd GoPac
1970 AMX Commodore Blue 390 4-spd GoPac |
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george w
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/27/2013 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 2899 |
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You say you replaced the sockets. I can't speak for the 1970 tail light housings but my 69 housings have an indexing tab in the socket opening at the 12 o'clock position that locates the socket orientation. My bulb sockets have a open spot on the locking tabs that engages with the tab.
Could it be that the sockets you're using may not have a open spot and that's not allowing the sockets to seat tightly and fully in the housing ? |
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Long time AMC fan. Ambassador 343, AMX 390, Hornet 360, Spirit 304 and Javelin 390. All but javelin bought new.
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Perrybones
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/05/2008 Location: Freehold NJ Status: Offline Points: 274 |
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Just another poor AMC design, just push in without a turn and lock. Mine fell out all the time, I replaced with new and it got worse. I just installed the LED custom fit EasyPerformance LEDs, they have problems too. Just cant win with the tail lights on these cars!
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Perry 70 Javelin SST 390, 69 AMX 343, 73 AMX 360, 67 Rebel SST Conv and 92 Corvette Conv. (modern muscle to keep wife happy).
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Heavy 488
AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/27/2019 Location: In the Status: Offline Points: 3553 |
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Just get those magnetic ones they use for towing. Pop em' on the deck lid and problem solved.
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Perrybones
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/05/2008 Location: Freehold NJ Status: Offline Points: 274 |
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Yeah! Maybe those ones that go on top of the trunk so dopey phone users dont slam into the back of my hard to get bumper! (see my post about the LED conversion boards, another fiasco)
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Perry 70 Javelin SST 390, 69 AMX 343, 73 AMX 360, 67 Rebel SST Conv and 92 Corvette Conv. (modern muscle to keep wife happy).
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tomj
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/27/2010 Location: earth Status: Offline Points: 7544 |
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68 AMerican has a similar design; so does 72 Hornet. I'm sure many more. As george w says, there is a 'missing prong' on the socket that aspirationally snaps into the metal reflector. They're also in a terrible location and get bumped a lot. The Hornet is much worse than the 68.
I gently bent all of the prongs slightly wider for a tighter fit, this "helps". But I really have to lean into the trunk to see exactly how to install it. I check it weekly. I replaced the 1157/2357's with red LED clusters. I found some inexpensive ones that had LEDs more on the sides then out straight, they work great.
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1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
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LakesideRamblin
AMC Addicted Joined: Dec/21/2015 Location: So. California Status: Offline Points: 2691 |
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Tom, can you please share where you obtained the LED's? Thanks.
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LakesideRamblin
69 Rambler 360 73 Javelin 360 "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month." T. Roosevelt |
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madams
AMC Addicted Joined: Jun/26/2017 Location: Duncan OK Status: Online Points: 603 |
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I bought a set of these for a 68 AMX from a forum member. Work great - the sockets stay in and keep a good electrical connection
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Steve_P
AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jun/28/2007 Status: Offline Points: 3805 |
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1970 is different than 1968-9. 70 bulb housings are recessed (they learned something from 68-9) and IIRC uses plastic sockets
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