90 Reatta convertible 3rd brake light

[Guest loupet]

Hey everybody,  hope all is good out there. I have a question on how to change the bulbs on the middle brake light on my 90 reatta convertable?  Thanks

[DAVES89]

I did mine last summer so I am going from memory. I believe you go through the trunk. there are two nuts to remove and then the mount can be lifted out. The bulbs are specialty bulbs and are a bit expensive, I think somewhere about $5.00 each. I was going to Gibson's [ my local You Pick] for other items and grabbed some out of cars there. I took my battery pack and when I found a car that used those bulbs, also took the bulb socket w/wires so I could test other bulbs. Ended up with about 5-6 extra, hopefully a lifetime supply.

[Guest loupet]

Thanks Dave. When in the trunk, I guess the felt lineing has to be removed to get at the nuts? 

[Barney Eaton]

The light assembly is mounted on the convertible hard boot, so by raising the back of the top, then releasing the boot, you can get to the fasteners without getting in the trunk.

I believe there are 3 bulbs.....small 2 pin halogen.

I'm thinking the owners manual does not list the correct bulb, but the bulbs are the same as used in garden lighting...they come in 10 and 20 watt sizes, I use the 10 watt to keep the heat down,

If you buy them at the auto parts store they will run $5-6 each, but they come in 2 per blister packs at Lowe's and HomeDepot and are about $6 for 2 bulbs.

I suspect you could also get LED lights but the halogens last a long time so it is probably not worth the extra cost for LED's

[Guest loupet]

Thank you Barney.

[Guest loupet]

Thanks 89RedDarkGrey. 

[NCReatta]

Just to clear the air a bit here....

 

1990 and 1991 Convertibles use FOUR bulbs. not three. 

 

They use 891 halogen bulbs. You can get them on RockAuto.com anywhere from $1.49-8.98. These bulbs run so hot (like any halogen bulb) that their lifespan is not long, especially if they get oils from human hands on them. The oil will boil and destroy the bulb. Save yourself the trouble and buy 4 brand new bulbs and do the job the right way the first time. 

[Barney Eaton]

Do an Ebay search for 12V landscape bulbs and you will find great buys.......

Here is an example, 30 for 12.95 free shipping  http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-10W-10WATT-HALOGEN-JC-12V-LANDSCAPE-LIGHT-BULB-G4-PI-BIN-LAMP-12-VOLT-/381594472518?hash=item58d8cd9046:g:jP4AAOSwu1VW2J2I

[KDirk]

Another thing to watch for is corrosion in the sockets. These lamps are bi-pin and insert into circuit board mounted friction contact sleeves. I had problems with mine due to heavy corrosion on a couple of the sleeves and finally ended up buying new ones and soldering them to the board as I had one bulb that just wouldn't  work reliably even after cleaning the sleeve socket with a wire brush.

[DAVES89]

16 hours ago, NCReatta said:

Just to clear the air a bit here....

 

1990 and 1991 Convertibles use FOUR bulbs. not three. 

 

They use 891 halogen bulbs. You can get them on RockAuto.com anywhere from $1.49-8.98. These bulbs run so hot (like any halogen bulb) that their lifespan is not long, especially if they get oils from human hands on them. The oil will boil and destroy the bulb. Save yourself the trouble and buy 4 brand new bulbs and do the job the right way the first time. 

You are right about buying new ones and most should follow that advice, but then what would semi retired guys like me get to do with our time? Just gives me another reason to go junkin...

[KDirk]

I considered that,  but the clearances are pretty tight and using a pigtail like you pictured  would move the lamps slightly forward closer to the lens.  In using 890's I expect the lens would melt if bulbs were moved any closer. 

 

The other issue is that the socket pictured probably has the same type of contacts internally (I've had these sockets fail in landscape lights) so they would corrode just as readily as the bare sleeves used in the OEM design. My thinking is that the LEDs should be soldered direct to the board. Makes servicing more difficult later, but the LEDs last a very long time.

 

Really, the thing lasted 25+ years before I needed to service it, so it is probably a non-issue as it isn't  a rapidly recurring problem once fixed.

 

[Guest loupet]

Thanks to you all for your experience on these bulbs. Yes there are 4 bulbs and, I called 4 local auto parts stores and, nobody has them. I'll try home depot and loews. Last resort will be online. Just don't want to wait 4 to 6 days for delivery.  Oh well it's not the end of the world.

[Guest loupet]

Thanks 89RedDarkGrey. 

[Guest loupet]

Hey 89RedDarkGray, I picked up the bulbs from Home Depot.  Thanks