SC Taillights go 'out'.

[mzavada]

Anyone else ever have this issue:

Someone tells you 'hey your brake/reverse/signal light in back is out.' Only to discover that the bulb isn't out, but as soon as you rotate it to take it out, it starts working?

Mine have been doing this off and on for a while, and I'm wondering why. They'll work for weeks/months, then I'll have to rotate them then they'll work for a while.

Wiring has checked out so far. Using dilectric grease on bulb base to help keep any moisture out. Cleaned and inspected housing contacts, they seem to be contacting sufficiently.

Any ideas?

[SpyderMike]

maybe you don't have a power source issue but you have a grounding issue.

[mzavada]

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

maybe you don't have a power source issue but you have a grounding issue.

Thats a good point. Electrical is not my forte, where do you suggest starting to look for that one? Nothing else electrical on the car seems to be acting up. Testing the contacts in the housing or something similar?

[T77911S]

corrosion on either the base (side) of the bulb or the contact(s) on the bottom. same points on the socket.

[SpyderMike]

The bulb is grounded through the bulb body to the socket, ground the socket to the light box and from the light box though a wire to the chassis. If wiggling the bulb makes it work, then I would look at the sockets for any corrosion at the bulb grounding contact points.

[mzavada]

After investigating this a little further, it seems like I might have had a slight buildup of corrosion on the socket itself, causing the bulb to not ground and 'go out.'

Cleaned everything up, put back together and seems to be working correctly.