My damn brake lights. Please help.

[jrider]

This is something that has boggled me for a long time. My left brake/tail light is not working right. There is a two-tone bulb that is used for your tail/brake light. When you have your lights on, just one part of the bulb (for the tail lights) light up. When you hit your brakes, the entire bulb lights up for a brighter light. So if you don't have your lights on, and hit your brakes, the entire bulb lights up for a bright brake light.

Now, here's my problem. When I have my lights on, both tail lights look normal. But when I hit my brakes, my right tail light gets brighter like it's suppose to, but my left light goes completely out- no dim light for the tail light- nothing. When I let off the brakes, the light comes back on for the tail light. If I don't have my lights on and hit my brakes, the brake light only lights up half way like the brightness of the regular running tail lights. I've switched the bulbs from the left and right lights and it still only does this on the left side; so I know it's not the bulb. I've also checked the voltage going to the damn thing with a voltage meter having a friend push the brake in a out and messing turning the lights on and off. Everything looks identical for both sides. What the hell could be causing this? My only other thought is the socket that the bulb goes into is somehow bad.

I'm sorry if this is confusing- read it a couple times ... I'm confused myself. I've messed with this thing for like 6 months now!

 

[ddavisaf]

Sounds like a socket, squeeze the connector closer together for better contact.

 

[jrider]

Thanks for the extra incentive! I just looked at the socket and had a friend hold down the brake and there is a bad solder point on the ground wire going to the socket. Out comes the soldiering iron and this damn problem is solved! I'm excited!

 

[rowlex]

Since you figured yours out im gonna jack your thread so i dont need to make a new one...

On mine my left side break light bulb, burns itself up (and of coarse doesnt work) If I put a brand new bulb in it and have someone hit the break, the bulb literally burns itself up inside 2-3 seconds. It smokes inside the bulb and doesnt work.. Anyone have any ideas of the problem?

 

[jrider]

Since you figured yours out im gonna jack your thread so i dont need to make a new one...

On mine my left side break light bulb, burns itself up (and of coarse doesnt work) If I put a brand new bulb in it and have someone hit the break, the bulb literally burns itself up inside 2-3 seconds. It smokes inside the bulb and doesnt work.. Anyone have any ideas of the problem?

I would check all the connections on the socket that holds the bulb. The ground (black) wire might be coming loose and it might be shorting it out somehow.