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+--- Thread: 72 sport lamp wires overheating (/showthread.php?tid=5818)
72 sport lamp wires overheating - 72mach1 - 08-03-2014
My 72 mach 1 sport lamp wires started smoking last night when i turned the headlights on. I immediately turned off the lights and noticed the bulb melted on the bottom. The wires and bulb sockets were so hot i had to let the wires cool down. When i turned the headlights on, the headlights were dim. I wiggled the sport lamp bulbs and the headlights became strong and visible. I took both sport lamp bulbs out and the headlights were bright like they should have been. Any ideas on why the wires and bulb housing got super hot in less than a minute?
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - Steven Harris - 08-04-2014
Electrical is not my forte but I will get the response started and let someone more automotive electrically minded jump on and help.
Of course the obvious is that there is too high of amperage draw on the system from that source. It would seem to me that that means that either there is a short or the bulb is drawing excess amperage. Are the bulbs the correct factory units? The factory wiring will not handle more than the "dim" factory bulb.
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - 72mach1 - 08-04-2014
I took the bulbs out and wrote down what they say on them to check for verification correct bulb.
1156S lf
Osram Germany
13 5b 691
The bulb socket that the bulb connected to got so hot that it made the socket glow from how hot it got. Going to check the wiring, bc it looks a little burnt and see if something is touching that shouldn't be. Also was seeing if the wires going to the back of the socket were connected to the right places. Just got the manuals in for the car so gonna go threw it and see what i can find. Hopefully its a easy fix, bc the sport lamps look cool on the car.
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - JTS71 Mach1 - 08-04-2014
Sounds like you had a wire rubbing something metal causing a short to ground. Could very well be in the sockets themselves. The numbers on the bulb indicate an 1156 which is a very common single filament bulb which is the standard bulb for the sport lamps, so that is ok. Somewhere the insulation may have cracked or been incorrectly repaired etc, etc, etc. Good luck, I would start where the socket stared to glow as that is where it got the hottest and is usually the source, or very close to it. Hope it helps. JTS 71 Mach1
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - Steven Harris - 08-04-2014
(08-04-2014, 01:40 AM)72mach1 Wrote: The bulb socket that the bulb connected to got so hot that it made the socket glow from how hot it got.
As Jack has pointed out - there is the location of your "short".
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - 72mach1 - 08-04-2014
I went back and looked at the wires today, and man are they rough looking. Seems the wires are burnt and i am going to have to replace the wiring. the metal inside the bulb socket is what was glowing. Should i seek out used bulb sockets out of another 72 mach 1?
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - Steven Harris - 08-04-2014
I would replace with new wherever possible.
Touch base with Don Witt at Ohio Mustang Supply to see what is available.
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - yoinspect - 08-04-2014
If I were you I wouldnt be so concerned with getting an "original" plug unless its a class 1 100 point vehicle. I have problems with my 70 too. they work fine then after a while they heat up and just go out then come on repeatedly. I had halogen bulbs and changed up to standards and installed a new switch. but the problem still persists. Not being able to use the car at night stinks!
After she comes back from the shop I will try to replace the regulator. If that doesnt work I will replace the wiring. Then if after that it doesnt work I will pull my hair out as I cant replace anything else.
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - 72mach1 - 08-08-2014
So this weekend i hope to tear open the wiring and replace the nasty burned up wires. If i am correct in 72 the sport lamps didn't come on unless you turn the headlights on. I have read a few posts that people have wired them to come on with just basic running lights for the cool look. I have been thinking about installing a switch to turn the sport lamps on and off with or without the headlights on for the look. If i do decide to do that i plan on hiding the switch so it doesn't take away from the originality of the car.
If i am going to need new sockets i plan on touching base with Don Witt.
yoinspect, good luck on your wire issues. If i can fix my problem ill let ya know how i did so.
RE: 72 sport lamp wires overheating - 72mach1 - 08-09-2014
Today it was a crappy rainy day, so i tore into the electrical. I stripped some of the wires to see if they had any burn marks or broken joints. After doing that i got out my tester and checked the back of the light socket for power. Both sockets were getting power to the back of them. I stuck the tester inside the front of the socket and tried touching two of the metal conductors and nothing happened. I put new bulbs in to see if they would ignite, and nothing happened. I took them out after a quick second just incase b/c i didn't wanna blow the bulbs. they cost like 5 or 6 bucks for 2 so it could get real expensive just blowing bulbs.
Anyone think it could be the actual light socket?