Taillight Housing Resto

Bright, functional turn signals and taillights play a key role in that safety.
Safety should always be the primary concern while driving your car, particularly at night. Bright, functional turn signals and taillights play a key role in that safety. Especially with older muscle cars, the taillights don't shine as brightly as when new. Here is some illuminating information that every car restorer should know.

Age Effects
Simply due to age, the factory bright-silver reflective surface inside light housings fades and becomes dull. In worst-case scenarios, this silver lining actually peels and lifts from the metal or plastic housing. Furthermore, exterior plastic lenses can chip or crack, or the plastic becomes so clouded with scratches that it doesn't perform up to snuff. Luckily, most of these problems can be fixed.

Rust & Corrosion
It's virtually impossible to eliminate internal damage due to severe rust and corrosion inside the bulb sleeve and at the contact points at the bottom where the bulb sits. If your bulb won't fit tightly within the sleeve, contact at the wiring connection cannot be made, or at best will be intermittent. To be safe, find a rust-free replacement housing.

Well-Grounded
After you've restored your housing and cleaned the contacts, if the light still won't illuminate or is dim, the cause is normally a bad ground. Check the harness ground in the trunk or at each turn signal, and if necessary replace the bulb. A good, clean ground is crucial for proper operation.