02' turn signal bulb socket

[johnfin]

I was told by the dealer that these sockets melt because of the heat generated from the bulb. Well they are correct, only problem is the sockets list at $80ea. Any fixes for this problem?

[cocobolo95]

If they make a led bulb to fit your application, it should work alright as the led puts out less heat than an incandescent bulb.

[GaryDoug]

There is no real fix, but you don't have to pay $80 for a socket. This $8 one will fit just fine and looks practically identical to the original one: Dorman/Directional Indicator Bulb Socket (85881) | AutoZone.com

Ignore what the books and the guys behind the auto parts counter say about these Dorman 85881 parts not fitting our cars. They are wrong. Practically every auto parts store has these in stock. I recently replaced both of mine in my 98 TA. Same part for 98-02. If the gasket seems too tight, just reuse the old one.
These sockets go bad because the lens in the housing leaks water through the front, which corrodes the metal, which causes a high resistance, which in turn generates more heat, continuing this vicious cycle ... until they melt. I coated the fronts of my lenses with clear epoxy to keep out the water.

[steveo]

better yet, dip the thing in dielectric grease before you put it in, and it'd run underwater

[GaryDoug]

I used copious amounts of that grease each time I replaced the bulbs. It didn't seem to help. Not that I didn't continue using it, can't hurt.

[johnfin]

These dormans sockets have 3 wires, mine has 2, whats the deal with that?

[GaryDoug]

Where exactly are these lamps? The service manuals all show 3 wires for front and rear turn signals on a 2002 T/A. Are you talking about side marker lamps?

[johnfin]

No, I am talking about the turn signals/ day time running lights. I need to look again but I am pretty sure mine only have 2 wires.

[johnfin]

Where do you see 3 wires, looks like 2 to me. Look at the DTR module for the feed, says right and left for the feed but the bulbs say LEFT, is this a typo.

[cocobolo95]

If you look at the front park,turn lamp, it shows 2 wires but has 3 places for connection. 1 is blank. Furthermore, if you look at all the exterior lighting diagrams, you will see the blank spot is now hooked to a brown wire and where the light blue or dark blue wire was, is now a blank spot in the diagram.

Same for the rear park, turn lamps, they are only showing 1 circuit at a time. You will have to go to another part of the exterior lighting diagrams to find the other part of the circuit.

I don't know why GM did the diagram that way, but it can be confusing. Rest assured that park, turn lamps do indeed have 3 wires to them.

[GaryDoug]

Originally Posted by cocobolo95

If you look at the front park,turn lamp, it shows 2 wires but has 3 places for connection. 1 is blank. Furthermore, if you look at all the exterior lighting diagrams, you will see the blank spot is now hooked to a brown wire and where the light blue or dark blue wire was, is now a blank spot in the diagram.

Same for the rear park, turn lamps, they are only showing 1 circuit at a time. You will have to go to another part of the exterior lighting diagrams to find the other part of the circuit.

I don't know why GM did the diagram that way, but it can be confusing. Rest assured that park, turn lamps do indeed have 3 wires to them.

Exactly. It seems they tried to simplify the diagrams in 2002. They failed.