Got a "You have burned out taillight" message from the car. Huh, No Problemo.
Tried to remove some of the bulb sockets to replace the 1157 bulbs, and found that three of them were warped from heat and wouldn't come out! Another was broken where the twist-socket engages.
I have always noticed that the red CHMSL lens in the trunk-lid looked a little funky as well. I bet that's melted too.
Anybody else had this? Is there a repair, or will I be stuck buying new taillights (both sides) for $1000? (The outer lenses are fine.)
Do these Caddies have a tendancy for the brake lamps to stay on or something, making the plastic melt?
Somewhat common to the breed. Usually happens because the wrong wattage bulb is used. All the bulbs need to be of the same brand and quality. By quality , I mean name brand. If it were my car, I would remove the sockets with a pair of channel locks gently turning them, if the hole in the lens was damaged, then get a GM lens from another type of car, cut around the hole in the donor lens and glue onto the Allante' lens. That would restore the hole to a good receptacle. Then replace ALL bulbs with same brand and use dielectrical grease inside the socket prior to reinstallation.
Somewhat common to the breed. Usually happens because the wrong wattage bulb is used. .
I didn't know that the common old 1157 came in different wattages...
Quote:
Originally Posted by carnut
All the bulbs need to be of the same brand and quality. By quality , I mean name brand. If it were my car, I would remove the sockets with a pair of channel locks gently turning them, if the hole in the lens was damaged, then get a GM lens from another type of car, cut around the hole in the donor lens and glue onto the Allante' lens. That would restore the hole to a good receptacle. Then replace ALL bulbs with same brand and use dielectrical grease inside the socket prior to reinstallation.
Great minds think alike ...But, I didn't know if gluing another piece of lens-plastic would be an effective repair.
Two of the bulbs can't be removed because the plastic lens drooped and the bulb no longer fits through...good thing I have a Dremel. The broken piece is at the corner bulb so I'll be taking the entire light panel out I guess. Any "gotcha's" in this job? Looks like a few bolts holds the entire panel in.
BTW, I purchased enough bulbs to change them ALL...got 'em from NAPA, but they are #2057. I'll look at the wattages on them, unless someone can assure me the #2057 are OK to use instead of #1157.
2057's should be ok, what brand are the bulbs? dont use silver socket bulbs, just brass. The only "trick" on lens removale is possibly scratching the bumper cover. I put strips of masking tape on the cover below the lens before I removed mine so as to not scrape the lens on the cover. If all the bulbs are the same brand, then wattage is not an issue. different brand bulbs mixed in can change the resistance and possibly trigger a false bulb failure message on the D.I.C. Again use die electric grease inside the socket as well as around the surface of the socket where it twists into the lens.
The NAPA bulbs are all brass at the sockets. They sell them in bulk so I'm not sure exactly what brand...but they are all the same. I wanted to replace them all for the same reason you mention: different brands can have slightly different resistance, triggering the Bulb Out warning.
Thanks for the tip about protecting the bumper cover.
THANK YOU!!!! This post of "brass base" bulbs helped me with my 98 Eldorado--the silver base bulbs will NOT fit properly (even though both #2057). I went to AutoZone, much to the bewilderment of the sales clerk and got the brass base bulbs--worked instantly!
Got a "You have burned out taillight" message from the car. Huh, No Problemo.
Tried to remove some of the bulb sockets to replace the 1157 bulbs, and found that three of them were warped from heat and wouldn't come out! Another was broken where the twist-socket engages.
I have always noticed that the red CHMSL lens in the trunk-lid looked a little funky as well. I bet that's melted too.
Anybody else had this? Is there a repair, or will I be stuck buying new taillights (both sides) for $1000? (The outer lenses are fine.)
Do these Caddies have a tendancy for the brake lamps to stay on or something, making the plastic melt?
ABH, NJ
no it is not.
however, it is very common for a gas station "mechanic" so slap the more common 1157 bulb.
the 1157 is used in a zillion cars and trucks, but is the wrong bulb for the Allante - TOO HOT.
the 1157 will damage the lens array .. a part that is worth its weight in gold.
and yes, hundreds if not thousands of Allante tail arrays have been melted by improper bulbs.
its one of the things one should check when buying an Allante, the internal side of the tail arrays
that can cost $1,000+ ...
as carnut stated, the 2057 with a brass base, is the proper bulb.
also, make darn sure the sockets are seated perfect and locked in place.
mis-installation is the 2nd cause of melt downs as the socket slips out allowing the hot bulb to
sit on the plastic lens.
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...But, I didn't know if gluing another piece of lens-plastic would be an effective repair.
The broken piece is at the corner bulb so I'll be taking the entire light panel out I guess. Any "gotcha's" in this job? Looks like a few bolts holds the entire panel in.
