Rear bulb sockets

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, I am at the point of tearing my hair out due to the rear bulb sockets' design.

1) The smaller rear brake bulb in the lower section of my V70's tail light blew. Various videos and catalog listings show an extended holder for the bulb. Of course my car doesn't have that feature. In fact, the bulb socket is incorporated into a square thing which appears to double as the "multi-plug" for the fixture.
To make matters worse, there's a strap of remaining metal directly over the square plug. Access holes are punched above and below said strap. I have no problem cutting that strap away.

2) My Right side blinker went out. I removed the socket/holder and the bulb tested OK. I was sure to stress the bulb's base against the glass just to make sure there wasn't an undetected break. The bulb seems sound.
I cannot get the socket to seat. The 1/8 turn to seat it has not been possible.

3) Now an 1156 brake bulb has gone out and I can't even get the bulb holder to twist for removal.

I bought replacement bulbs but have not gotten far enough along the process to try 'em.

Does anyone have any insight?

Someone mentioned (in searching around) that there is a spring loaded element involved so that pressure is applied to the contacts.
This person was dispelling the need for rubber bands to exert force on the socket to make contact.
That's real nice to read but I found a rubber band in use when I opened this job.

HELP.........Even personal requests have gone unanswered. Makes a guy feel societally superfluous.

[abscate]

I resemble that remark

You caught me in a crazy week. I was on Manhattan yesterday imaging supermodels again, it’s very tiring.

Let me know if you drive by on your way up and let’s get it done

[Georgeandkira]

It's 50 hours later and I have joy. Here's a description of each of the 3 positions I encountered.

1) What I called the smaller brake bulb is actually a position light which comes on with the headlights.
It's the highest lamp in the V70's lower tail light section.
My headlights are my DRLs so position lights (tail lights) are on all the time.

As it turned out my car has the extended socket holders. It is smaller in diameter than for the other lamps back there.
The depth of the fixture and confinement of the body masked the socket's length.
Unlike other sockets, this one was in pristine condition. I bought a matched pair of replacement R5W bulbs at the Volvo dealer.
The square thing I thought was a plug/socket combo was just a plug. With the aforementioned strap of metal in place there's barely enough room to withdraw/install the plug straight.
Unplugging it is not necessary to change the wee lamp.

2) The R blinker bulb (amber bulb-clear lens) was fighting me as mentioned above. I bought a 2 pack of Sylvania 7507 bulbs (German made Osram bulbs, no less!) even though the "dead one" checked out OK.
Turns out the center contact had flattened and the resulting "tang-to-tit" looseness was enough to stop the 12V.

It just took more time to seat the damn socket. One contact was a little blackened so I cleaned it.

3) The 1156 brake light's socket was a bear to turn CCW. Even after breaking free it squeaked and scratched as I withdrew it.
Here the socket was melted and scorched on both sides of the same contact. I trimmed the irregularities and scraped the carbon off the contact. The bulb was still good. When I got everything clean and greased the socket went back into place easily. I did have to settle it in.
I had a new 1156 bulb but after all this torture I was on a refreshing roll. During a test fit the socket went in cleanly and lit up!
So I decided to leave the damn thing in there until my next burnout.

POINTS:
1) Have your inspection mirror + flashlight with you.
2) Forcefulness and delicacy are both required.
3) Put dielectric grease on electric contacts and a bit near the socket's lugs. This "design" needs all the help it can get.

[Jdullwitted]

I'm having trouble with only my right-side brake light. I'm going to try a different bulb, even though the current bulb is new and looks good - as you mention, the base of the bulb could be flattened -- or maybe it is just too short to make the contact. I wish I could remember if this was a bulb I replaced recently. Better trying a different bulb - maybe with a longer neck? if that's possible, than replacing the circuit board. --- I'm not reading about bulbs with and without "offset pins." The bulb shown on a euro parts site for 1990 Volvo 740 GL wagon, notes that it has offset pins. Thanks.

[abscate]

We should move thi some to the 940 Forum unless someone knows if they are the same on P2s? Sounds unlikely.