Pontiac Firebird 1967-2002 - Anyone else having these Blinker Problems? 98 T/A
staff23
05-19-2008, 03:58 PM
Hey guys, I got my 98 three years ago. Since then, I've replaced the front blinkers 4 times. 2 times because I washed my car and sprayed too much water in/around the blinker housing. The last time happened yesterday. I was driving to NY in a rain storm. I live about 130 miles away, it rained the whole way up and the whole way back 260 miles total. The next morning, no left blinker, about 3 hours later no right.
Ok, I mean they are like 3-6 dollars so not that big of a deal, and believe me I have the routine down of how to get them out and back in. But, isn't this a little ridiculous to have to keep replacing them every time it rains a bit, or I get water in there?
Is this a common thing? I know the way the bulb is, the water just lays in there and the lowest place is probably right were the bulb connects. Has anyone drilled a few holes to let the water out? or any other ideas, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Sunset01TA
05-19-2008, 05:51 PM
You most likely have a crack in your housing. Or your connector is fubar.
I put new ones on mine and no more bulb issues.
brynnda
05-19-2008, 11:04 PM
i constantly go through them in my 97, but i have clear corners
staff23
05-20-2008, 09:51 AM
Thanks guys, and Sorry, should have looked down a few, someone just posted the same exact thing!
I think I've got a crack somewhere! HA
RapidRick
05-20-2008, 10:17 PM
My '98 T/A did that also. First a blinker wouldn't blink. I'd tap the stalk manually for a few days til I got around to replacing the bulb, and sometimes then it wouldn't even light after awhile.
Not only did the bulbs burn out, but I replaced each socket 2-3 times over the last 3 years because they toasted & melted!
On a tip, I replaced both Parking/Turn lenses with non GM pieces from ebay, and when installing the Sockets, put just a bit of silicone around the twist in part of the socket. 6 mos and so far no issues.
I also have a Formula, and have never had any issues with the diffferent lamp design it has over the T/A models. :D
Bird Man
05-29-2008, 08:34 AM
After replacing DRL bulbs on the Passanger side of my 02--I decided to replace the whole unit--the stealership wanted $75 for the part---I bought it at AutoZone for $7.99.
Go Figure. Works great now.
Formula350
05-29-2008, 09:29 AM
My front plugs are bad and so my shits been action up pretty bad the past couple months :\ I got 2 nice (used) pigtails for the front off of some other car that was getting junked at my buddy's shop, so I'll be putting those in sometime soon.
EDS01SS
05-29-2008, 10:34 AM
drilled a couple drainage holes in mine and havent had a problem since I did it
Crimsonnaire
08-16-2008, 04:35 PM
For the housing that--if cracked--will allow water in, do you access it through the same way as you would access the bulb, or do you have to get at it from the top through the headlights?
LS1stunna
08-16-2008, 08:34 PM
Ive replaced them like twice, along with the flasher. I just need to buy new housings since mine are shit.
yeller_xtc
08-20-2008, 05:40 PM
mine had a crack i super glued it...
qwk93ta
08-21-2008, 11:25 AM
I had to replace my sockets.....