When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 1988 E150 Conversion Van.When the parking lights or headlights are on and I apply the brakes the right side tail light goes out,no brake light and no tail light.The left side works fine.However when the tail lights or head lights are off and I step on the brake it works.I thought it was a ground so I ran a test ground wire and it still does the same thing,Could it be the socket or what.I need help please.Thanks
It could be the socket. It's definitely a ground problem, but the ground connection starts at the brass part of the bulb, goes through the contact tab on the side of the socket, through the socket wiring, to a bolt in the body somewhere.
99% of the time, the brass part of the bulb is not making good contact with the little tab in the socket. But I have had sockets that mysteriously go bad, even though I cleaned the bulb and the contact. You can also lose the connection if the little wires have broken that are soldered to the brass part of the bulb.