John:
Yes, of course you can fit a ground wire to the existing
sockets.
The normal sockets get their ground through the tail light
frame. The ears on the socket make contact with the tail light frame
when the socket is inserted into the assembly, and this how they are
currently grounded ("currently grounded" Get it? Hah-ha, I crack myself
up). Bob Daniels has a nice little article on the upgraded sockets you
mention:
http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org/TailLights.htm
Bob's approach is the "belt *AND* suspenders" approach. Nothing
short of a direct hit by a tactical nuke will cause his tail light
grounds to go bad =:-o
The problem with the existing sockets is not so much using the
tail light frame as the grounding point. Allegedly it is the internal
design of the sockets. The grounding ears are a separate piece of metal,
and rely on spring pressure to make contact with the lamp socket. It is
this internal connection to the lamp that tends to oxidize and result in
poor grounds. Usually you can swap a socket from left to right and the
problem will follow the socket. Having said that, please remember that
these are generalities and not absolutes.
A fix for this is on the web somewhere (don't have the link).
Basically you peel off the rubber boot on a socket, and solder the
grounding ear assembly to the lamp socket. As I recall (always dangerous
- killed far too many brain cells in college) the internal socket
assembly can be separated from the plastic shell to facilitate access.
When done, the shell and rubber boot simply slip back on. This
eliminates the possibility of dirt and corrosion getting between the
grounding tab and the lamp socket.
According to the article, this all but eliminates tail light
problems. I suppose you could clean the grounding ears with steel wool
while you are at it, just to keep the prince of darkness at bay
Hail Lucas, prince of darkness!! We are your slaves and declare our
undying loyalty to your nefarious designs.
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@Autox.Team.Net [mailto:owner-6pack@Autox.Team.Net] On
Behalf Of John VanNorman
Sent: August 14, 2007 7:56 AM
To: 6-Pack
Subject: [6pack] Grounding tail lights (was: Finding Short)
In the discussion about brake light symptoms, Vance noted the
traditional problem with the contacts in the tail light sockets
oxidizing over time and eventually
losing a ground in one of the sockets. I know that there is a guy
who sells new sockets on eBay that have an additional ground
connection so that you can run a ground wire. But I've been wondering
- isn't it possible to just retro fit a ground wire to the original
sockets? What I was thinking of doing was soldering in a short
individual ground wire to each socket and then connecting all the
bulbs on that side of the car together to a common ground wire, with
the ground wire connected to the body of the car via a new hole or
some other connection. Seems like it would be a simple project.
Thoughts?
John V.
1974 1/2 TR6
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