pogo69

i'm looking for some help on the under hood light, how is the wire connected to the actual light socket...is it pinched in or soldered or what? it has to slide back and forth freely but looking at i'm not sure how it was attached

picture enclosed

thanks

MDchanic

Far as I know, it was crimped into the central post of the light socket, just like all of the other bayonet-base sockets.
You may need to solder it to get it to work, though.
Don't forget the spring!

- Eric

oldspackrat

If you can't get it fixed, I have a few in stock.
Scott

pogo69

thanks eric i will see if i can crimp it dont think i can solder it the sleeve is steel, and looking at it it is going to be hard to crimp because the small sliding sleeve is inside the larger sleeve

another pic....it almost looks like it would have to be taken apart but the socket looks machine crimped into the light housing

pogo69

thanks i appreciate it, if i cant get this one working will let you know

MDchanic

I agree with the general idea that "you can't get there from here."

Those parts were assembled by machine in a certain order, and there is a good chance that you couldn't do it again the same way.

Probably a much better bet to buy one from Scott.

- Eric

69442C

I show how that light goes together in my restoration thread. It's very easy once you see how it was done.

Brian

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...n-project.html

dfire25

HA! I knew there was a mercury switch inside the light. Either that or it was magic that it shut off when the hood was closed. Nice post 69442C, thanks.

Lady72nRob71

Here is the post for those who do not wan to hunt for it:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tml#post446951

Excellent writeup on it - I did not know they would come apart so easily!

MDchanic

Well, there ya go!

I'd still buy one from Scott, though, just to have as a spare.

- Eric

pogo69

outstanding thread i got so wrapped up in reading it i forgot about my hoodlight....thanks i'll try taking it apart,and maybe getting a spare in case the mercury lamp is broken

69442C

Thanks. Use a small screwdriver on the back side of the light to push everything out the front of the socket once the bulb has been removed. Pay attention to which way the mercury switch is installed as they only function one way and by all means don't drop it and have the glass break. The little brass button on the end of the wire that contacts the bulb is crimped on and I cut it off. I use a small drill bit on the end of that button to drill out the wire strands and be careful not to drill too deeep or the bit will go all the way through. If you need a new wire, make one up and replace the other end that connects to the the power feed. The last step in assembling the wire will be to crimp the button back onto the wire and make sure to use the crimp tool section for uninsulated ends, meaning it has the metal tooth that compresses into the brass button. I have also slipped a piece of heat shrink tube on the wire before crimping the button as that is what you should see sticking out the back of the light socket to insulate the wire from the metal socket body. The light has a rubber boot on the bottom of the socket and if it is in good shape than you can eliminate the heat shrink.

Brian