How Do I Fix This (56k friendly pictures inside)

[MilTownSHO]

So I noticed my left license plate lamp was out, finally got around to fixing it before I give a cop a reason to pull me over...

Anyhow I start getting it apart and these teal/blacks pieces are falling out of the socket and the housing. Get the bulb out, it's not burnt out but has alot of what appears to be corrosion on the end of it.

So I try a new bulb... no luck
Try blowing out the socket somewhat... no luck
Knock the socket and clean it out with a screwdriver (which probably wasn't the smartest idea come to think of it, but ALOT of junk came out)... no luck

If the pictures don't work just hit refresh, it should come up!
Here is what the crap that was all over looked like (picture of the plastic housing):

I think the corrosion or whatever it is, isn't allowing a electrical connection to be made because the bulbs are fine. How do I fix this? Can I clean it better or do I need to install a new socket for the light?

 

[MilTownSHO]

Crappy picture of the socket, you can see a little bit of it on the side, these were taken with my phone's camera, so....

 

[MilTownSHO]

I'm impatient tonight, so I'm bumping this up!

Someone please tell me I don't have to take this to a dealer or some BS and that I dont have to rip out the Dynomat to get at the wiring to fix it

P.S. The top photo (when it wants to show up) is a much better example of the crud I'm talking about!

 

[MilTownSHO]

Stupid pictures are not working, anyone got a good hosting site?

Photobucket is not accepting more free ones right now, Photoisland is closing...

 

[97V8SHO]

Try imagestation.com or cardomian.com

 

[SHO#7]

I would start with checking the wires for current. You can pick up a test light cheap. Use the point of it to pierce the wires going to the socket. That will tell you if it is in the socket or further down the line.


Good luck

 

[SHOZ123]

You probably need a new socket pigtail. AutoZone has the 194 bulb style for ~$4.

 

[spragers]

Was this on the '97 or the '98? I just replaced a burned out license plate bulb on my '91, the only holding the socket in any longer was rust and bondo from my cheap paint job several years ago, but the socket and wiring worked fine. I can't believe a gen 3 would have bulb sockets that messed up

 

[MilTownSHO]

This was on the 97. I now also found one of my rear bumper lamps has the same problem!