In the taillight assembly, there's a socket for the side marker light. In mine, the wire leading into the socket seems to have been pinched so that current only gets to the lamp intermittently.

The bulb sits in a socket, the back of which appears to be sealed somehow. The only 'official' way to fix it is a new harness for the whole taillight assembly, which is stupid money for such a small problem. So my question: How can you bust open this little socket, maybe snip the broken wire off and just twist everything back together and tape it up? Anybody ever faced this?

Thanks in advance. Sorry to eat bandwidth for such small issue, but lights that don't work are so hillbilly...

Bruce.

 

I CANT PICTURE WHAT your talking about ?

we are talking the rear light?

 

I have to assume that the wire is pinched outside the socket, so I don't see a problem. Cut the wire and reconnect. If it is right at the socket, you can enlarge the entrance for the wire to get to it by using a soldering iron to melt the plastic.

 

Yup. The light I have a problem with is the passenger side rear side marker lamp. I was trying to describe the assembly for non-pros.



Imagine you're replacing the bulb. You'd take the taillight assembly out, and then twist and pull the socket thingie for the side marker out of the assembly and pop in the new bulb. Well, it's that socket thingie that's the problem. Holding it in my hand, the bulb will flicker on and off, and my assumption is that it's because a wire has been crimped where it enters the back of the socket.

What I was hoping to do was save myself the cost and hassle of a whole new taillight harness by patching something together. But the socket looks like it's sealed up.

 

Take your volt meter and test for consistant voltage, movring the wires around while measuring. if you have constant voltage, then your problem is either with the bulb or the contacts. Clean and adjust socket contacts so they make good contact with bolt.

 

Bruce, I had to fix several similar issues on my car due to an engine fire. If you can find the wires and socket at a salvage yard, you can cut the wires a few inches away from the socket and splice the junkyard wires & socket onto the existing one. This should only cost you a couple of dollars.
Try Silver Star Recycling in Rancho Cordova California. I wouldn't bother with LA Auto Dismantlers...they will try to sell you the entire wiring harness for the car for a couple thousand dollars (ask me how I know). My favorite method of splicing wires is to solder them and then shrink wrap them. Good luck.

 

Yikes!

Dealer quoted me about $200 for the harness. Still seemed like a lot for an essentially ornamental light problem, though. Dismantler is a good idea. I assume I could ping these guys from here and have the part shipped... Rancho Cordova is a long way from Toronto.

 

A picture goes a long way...

 

Yeah, I know. But... underground parking, no camera with flash. Sorry...

 

Give my an address (via strobedata.com) and I'll send an almost complete harness, FREE, certain to include the socket you need.

 

That's a fantastic offer, thank you. Message sent!

 

pics, pics pics please!

 

Wwest: Guys like you make this forum what it is...helpful, informative, and "staffed" with a great bunch of guys. Nice of you to offer your harness to Bruce. Saved him a bunch of $$. Chuck

 

True dat.

I hope I can be useful to someone around here one of these days. Still prolly only in the tenth percentile of Porsche smartness...