That Stinkin' Blinkin' 257 Bulb
Started doing my ops check in prep for judging and found that the headlight warning light on my 67 was running a little slow. So slow in fact I kept telling myself "Don't hold your breath". It would come, blink off, then 30 seconds later blink on again. Left it on for a few minutes figuring it was cold and had to warm up. Same thing every 30 seconds or so it would blink on. Something wrong here, maybe 2 year old bulb from LL, think I ought to change it out with the NOS GE257 I had gotten some time ago.
Now if I were a ballerina, with a lithe, lean body with the ability for precise movements in a contorted position, I'd have this bulb out and in, in one minute flat. But as a 63 year old ex-Seabee (with a little shoulder bursitus), it took me a little longer.
First, you have to lay on your back over the drivers seat under the steering wheel with your head over the console (put it in first, as the shift knob interferes with your head
). Then reach in over the steering column with one arm, the bulb is all the way at the top. Dislodge the bulb socket from the dash,( make sure it's the right one) and bring it down.
Then you have to change positions to upside down to get both arms (and head) under the dash to change the bulb. I helps if you have the new bulb stored in your teeth (pre-test it first).
Then change back to the first position, and put the bulb socket back into dash.
Actually, it took me only 10 minutes, but I had to loosen my body up with a couple of glasses of vino. After finishing, I went for the Advil.
But the satisfaction is that warning light now blinks like heck. Success at last
Here's a pic of the Taiwan GEC257 next to the real thing:
Many thanks to Tim Barbieri for turning me on to the real GE 257 bulb.
I bought 2, so now I have a spare.
Just having fun,
Now if I were a ballerina, with a lithe, lean body with the ability for precise movements in a contorted position, I'd have this bulb out and in, in one minute flat. But as a 63 year old ex-Seabee (with a little shoulder bursitus), it took me a little longer.
First, you have to lay on your back over the drivers seat under the steering wheel with your head over the console (put it in first, as the shift knob interferes with your head
). Then reach in over the steering column with one arm, the bulb is all the way at the top. Dislodge the bulb socket from the dash,( make sure it's the right one) and bring it down.Then you have to change positions to upside down to get both arms (and head) under the dash to change the bulb. I helps if you have the new bulb stored in your teeth (pre-test it first).
Then change back to the first position, and put the bulb socket back into dash.
Actually, it took me only 10 minutes, but I had to loosen my body up with a couple of glasses of vino. After finishing, I went for the Advil.
But the satisfaction is that warning light now blinks like heck. Success at last
Here's a pic of the Taiwan GEC257 next to the real thing:
Many thanks to Tim Barbieri for turning me on to the real GE 257 bulb.
I bought 2, so now I have a spare.
Just having fun,
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