Dropped blinker bulb into housing

Blobby · 05-13-2021, 06:38 PM

Hi all. I got some led blinker bulbs that draw 21w so the comp thinks it’s an incandescent... have run them for a few years in other cars and they seem to work fine. Well I put one in the Camaro, and I guess the base isn’t all that great. One fell out and is rattling around in the blinker housing. Any thoughts on getting this thing out without dismantling the front end and removing the headlight?

arpad_m · 05-13-2021, 07:25 PM

Do you have kids?

Trochoidal · 05-13-2021, 07:42 PM

Never had to retrieve one of the bulbs but the first thing that comes to mind is a small Loc-line kit. These don’t move freely when new. I’m thinking you could tape a piece of foam around the end and after that apply some double-sided tape.

Who knows if this will work. I’m just tossing out an idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Loc-Line-Acet.../dp/B006VKESA6

You could go with the off brand which looks longer.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B088Q...KQYKp13NParams

Timbo-1LE · 05-13-2021, 07:50 PM

Magnet? then crush it with needle nose plyers and vacuum the rest out... Harsh but works...

Blobby · 05-13-2021, 08:05 PM

I was thinking magnet... but not a ton of ferrous metal on it. Maybe the tape rout. Or maybe something like those fishing hook removal pliers that are 6” or so long with alligator clip sized pliers at the end. But not a ton of room to work with back there.

Blobby · 05-13-2021, 08:48 PM

Looks like removing the bumper isn’t too awful involved. Might be the easiest rout... just shake the headlight till it falls out. Might change the grill to an ss grill while it’s apart. I think the lt grill is a bit fugly.

len_eng · 05-14-2021, 04:25 AM

The same thing happened to me on my 2018. I took a small loop of duct tape sticky side out and attached it to a wire coat hanger or a stiff piece of wire and then bent it sufficiently to get into the housing through the bulb opening. I was able to fish it out, the adhesive on the duct tape was able to snag the bulb and hold onto it after applying some firm pressure. It took a while but was definitely easier than taking apart the bumper.

Blobby · 05-16-2021, 02:35 PM

Coat hanger and tape for the win! Got some really goopy Gorilla tape. Parked on a hill so the bulb wouldn’t want to roll away. Took about 20 min, but it finally grabbed ahold of the bulb.

Bumbleboy92 · 05-16-2021, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blobby

Looks like removing the bumper isn’t too awful involved. Might be the easiest rout... just shake the headlight till it falls out. Might change the grill to an ss grill while it’s apart. I think the lt grill is a bit fugly.

Closest you can do is the SEMA or aftermarket, the SS grille won’t fit

Blobby · 05-16-2021, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumbleboy92

Closest you can do is the SEMA or aftermarket, the SS grille won’t fit

Thanks for that. I was searching for that answer. Seemed like it would fit cause the aftermarket options said they fit lt/ss. Figured they were interchangeable.

05-13-2021, 06:38 PM	#1
Blobby Drives: Former Owner '16 Camaro 2LT V6 conv Join Date: May 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 97	Dropped blinker bulb into housing Hi all. I got some led blinker bulbs that draw 21w so the comp thinks it’s an incandescent... have run them for a few years in other cars and they seem to work fine. Well I put one in the Camaro, and I guess the base isn’t all that great. One fell out and is rattling around in the blinker housing. Any thoughts on getting this thing out without dismantling the front end and removing the headlight?

05-13-2021, 07:25 PM	#2
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,579 View My Garage	Do you have kids? __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

05-13-2021, 07:42 PM	#3
Trochoidal Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: May 2019 Location: USA Posts: 1,656	Never had to retrieve one of the bulbs but the first thing that comes to mind is a small Loc-line kit. These don’t move freely when new. I’m thinking you could tape a piece of foam around the end and after that apply some double-sided tape. Who knows if this will work. I’m just tossing out an idea. https://www.amazon.com/Loc-Line-Acet.../dp/B006VKESA6 You could go with the off brand which looks longer. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B088Q...KQYKp13NParams __________________ Roto-Fab w/sound tube delete, Katech ported TB, Pray IM, Velossa, DD side markers, DSX FF, UPR Catch can, Halo brace, My custom vent gauge pod Originally Posted by arpad_m - “Aww, yet another oil thread with almost the same question in the OP“

05-13-2021, 07:50 PM	#4
Timbo-1LE Drives: 2017 SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Florida Posts: 617	Magnet? then crush it with needle nose plyers and vacuum the rest out... Harsh but works...

05-13-2021, 08:05 PM	#5
Blobby Drives: Former Owner '16 Camaro 2LT V6 conv Join Date: May 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 97	I was thinking magnet... but not a ton of ferrous metal on it. Maybe the tape rout. Or maybe something like those fishing hook removal pliers that are 6” or so long with alligator clip sized pliers at the end. But not a ton of room to work with back there.

05-13-2021, 08:48 PM	#6
Blobby Drives: Former Owner '16 Camaro 2LT V6 conv Join Date: May 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 97	Looks like removing the bumper isn’t too awful involved. Might be the easiest rout... just shake the headlight till it falls out. Might change the grill to an ss grill while it’s apart. I think the lt grill is a bit fugly.

05-14-2021, 04:25 AM	#7
len_eng Drives: 2024 Radiant Red 2SS, 1994 Z28, Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sharon, Ma Posts: 166	The same thing happened to me on my 2018. I took a small loop of duct tape sticky side out and attached it to a wire coat hanger or a stiff piece of wire and then bent it sufficiently to get into the housing through the bulb opening. I was able to fish it out, the adhesive on the duct tape was able to snag the bulb and hold onto it after applying some firm pressure. It took a while but was definitely easier than taking apart the bumper.

05-16-2021, 02:35 PM	#8
Blobby Drives: Former Owner '16 Camaro 2LT V6 conv Join Date: May 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 97	Coat hanger and tape for the win! Got some really goopy Gorilla tape. Parked on a hill so the bulb wouldn’t want to roll away. Took about 20 min, but it finally grabbed ahold of the bulb.

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