Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: Red_LX on September 30, 2006, 10:12:10 PM

Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Red_LX on September 30, 2006, 10:12:10 PM
One of my taillight bulbs went out (and from the looks of it my taillights have been leaking water like a sieve), anyway I was looking and I can't figure out how the bulbs come out. I figured they just twisted clockwise or counterclockwise but they don't want to budge and I don't want to break off the bulb.
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Chuck W on September 30, 2006, 10:20:18 PM
They're a push and twist, but over time they can get gunked up and a bit stuck.  Try a little WD-40 down between the bulb and socket to loosen things up.
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Red_LX on September 30, 2006, 10:21:36 PM
So you push them in and twist?
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Pressure cooked chicken on September 30, 2006, 10:24:11 PM
push in and turn counterclockwise. if it still won't budge then a small shot of wd40 at the base might help. be patient; if the bulb does break, get a pair of needle nose pliers, insert the tips into the remainder of the broken bulb, push in and turn counterclockwise. on the new bulb, a dab of dielectric grease will go a long way toward preventing the corrosion from being a problem again. oh yeah, run a bead of silicone along the top joint on the taillight as well. HTH
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Pressure cooked chicken on September 30, 2006, 10:25:18 PM
wow, fast typing chuck beat me to the punch, LOL
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Thunder Chicken on September 30, 2006, 10:54:09 PM
Ya sure you don't have 3157 bulbs? I know 88's have 'em but not sure about 87's. If you can't see the metal base, or if the bulb looks like it's got a plastic base you've got 3157 bulbs, and they just pull out.
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: merccougar50 on September 30, 2006, 11:18:05 PM
My '86 has 1157: breaks and 1156: marker lights so ford must have switched to the blade style bulbs sometimes in the 1980's
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: Red_LX on October 01, 2006, 01:44:24 AM
I got 3157's (blade style) and that's definitely not what the car has. It's got the style that fit into a round socket. So I'm gonna have to return the 3157's and get the right ones.

The stupid book for light bulbs at advance only went back to '91...so I was guessing, as I was on my lunch break and didn't have time to pull the trunk apart.
Title: How do the taillight bulbs release from the sockets?
Post by: tbirdscott on October 01, 2006, 12:51:42 PM
Just smash the bulb and pop it out with needle nose pliers as stated, If water was leaking in there theyre not likely to come out without a fight