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Re: 1985 4 Door Tail lights Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email]  (#32) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:46:08
In Reply to: 1985 4 Door Tail lights, Scott Shure, Sun, 24 Nov 2013 16:54:57 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I have never heard of such a problem on a Saab that wasn't cured by either replacing the bulb holder or doing the ground mod (but grounding doesn't seem to be the problem). I will say, though, that I had a similar problem on my girlfriend's Isuzu Rodeo years ago and then again more recently on a VW Jetta. I never fixed the Rodeo - just randomly brake lights would stop working and nothing cured it - but I did finally fix the Jetta. The problem - mind-blowingly - was the bulbs. The previous owner had probably 14 brand new bulbs littering the trunk and was convinced the issue was a massive electrical problem. Because I don't trust anyone, after buying another full set of replacement bulbs for the Jetta and getting nowhere, I started having visions of the Rodeo problem all over again. As is not normally my nature, I went into my box of emergency used bulbs - ancient things mostly sourced from parted out Saabs - and tried some of those. SOLVED. After fixing the Jetta with old bulbs, I wished we still had the Rodeo so I could "fix" it too!
As it turns out, the ancient bulbs' bases were inexplicably of a different diameter than the newer ones. I'm talking about a mm difference. But apparently enough to make unreliably or inadequate ground contact! Once I observed it and measured it, it was obvious the new bulbs did not fit snugly in the sockets. For grins I put the new bulbs in my SPG and they did not work there reliably, either - even more slop!
It's a long-shot, but since you've tried all the normal tests and remedies, I'd give it ago. In lieu of finding old bulbs, possibly try bending the bulb sockets on the panels in & see what happens.
posted by 12.195.130...
, Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:46:08 <-- Viewing This Message, Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:52:13
, Mon, 25 Nov 2013 21:02:53, Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:57:55
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