Front turn signal socket replacement

[Dave R.]

I am in the process of swapping out a bad front turn signal socket in my 1969 Corvette. I have installed the socket into the grille but I am uncertain as to the best way to move the fiber optic cable from the old to the new socket. I have pushed the amber glass piece out the back of the old socket and it's still attached to the fiber optic cable. I don't want to damage anything so I am coming to the experts for some guideance.

Thanks

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

Surely someone has run into this situation before and can offer some guideance.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

The FO cable pushes into the amber "gizmo" and is retained by a copper/brass ferrule that encircles the end of the FO cable. It's a "friction fit".

I've always been able to just pull the FO cable out of the plastic gizmos, but I haven't done 1000 of them. Chuck

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

Well I got the fiber optic cable changed over now this turn signal continues to annoy me. Now the bulb seems to be loose in the socket and the turn signal will blink but, it seems to blink at a slower rate than the passenger side.
When I completed the replacement the signal wouldn't blink at all until I wiggled the bulb around a bit.

I can't beleive something so stupid can become so aggravating.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

Make sure you have the same "numbered" bulb in each socket. There are 1154's 1157's, etc. All are double filament for park and TS, but will blink at a different rate.

Don't know what to tell you about the looseness, other than to say the base is spring loaded. Chuck

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

Thanks Chuck, maybe they just sent the new one with a different numbered bulb than what I bought for the other side; that would be such a relief.

Thanks for the replies

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

I went out an bought a new bulb for the car; an 1157A just like the passenger side has. I installed it and turned the signal on; the flasher blinked two or three times and then went solid amber. I wiggled the bulb but no change. I removed the bulb and noticed that the once clear amber bulb had turned cloudy amber just that quick.

Please, please please someone help me figure this thing out; it's driving me up the wall.

[Rick S.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

Dave,
If you bought the bulb at your local FLAPS maybe that is where the problem is as they are usually cheap bulbs and are very poor quality (Mexico, Far East,etc). I would check for a good quality bulb and see if that helps.

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

I bought the bulbs at my local Pep Boys and they are Sylvania bulbs. I bought 1157A's but, I was looking through Rick Bizocco's book and it lists 1157NA as the correct bulb. Would the 1157A and the 1157NA be the same bulb?

[George D.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

The 1157A is painted amber and the 1157NA is a natural amber glass. You can see the internal guts of the lamp on the 1157NA. Typically the 1157NA will give you a more brilliant color since glass is not covered with paint.

[Dave R.]

Re: Front turn signal socket replacement

I guess I had purchased the 1157NA bulbs then. However, I am at a loss in determining what the problem might be with the turn signal.
As stated earlier, the bulb that came with the new assembly will blink but, at a much slower speed than the passenger side signal.
When I installed a new bulb the signal blinked two or three times and then just stopped. I had the marker lights turned on so the bulb stayed on but did not continue to blink.

So far I have changed out the flasher unit that mounts to the fuse panel, I have sprayed the turn signal switch area on the steering column with WD 40 as suggested by another reader and I changed out the complete turn signal assembly with a new one from Paragon.

Although the turn signal works, but very slowly, I am concerned that I may be really screwed when that bulb burns out if new bulbs are going to act like the last one I installed.

Any additional ideas on where to go next? I have a Corvette Assembly Manual but, that seems to be useless.