WTH? Alternating burned-out tail lights ... help! :)

[FixItAgainTony]

Recently discovered I had a right tail light out. Got a bulb. Replaced. Still wasn't working.

Next time I looked, the right tail light was working ... and now the left tail light was out!

What the heck is going on here? Any help appreciated.

1998 Ranger Pick-up.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Logic says they're on the same amount of time.

Maybe it was just their time to go.

I wouldn't worry about it unless they keep burning out... I would then switch bulb brands. There are some terrible replacement parts these days.

 

[airbourneranger]

Sounds like a grounding problem. Check all your grounds and make sure they haven't rusted off.

 

[FixItAgainTony]

That makes sense.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Not sure how many "rusted off" grounds happen in Cali. It's fairy common in the salt belt.

If it were a bad ground... it would most likely affect all rear bulbs not just a single element.... that switches sides and burns a filament.

 

[airbourneranger]

Bad ground at the socket

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Grounds do weird things.

I don't know on that new of a truck but my tail lights ground to the dash so it can't really rust off. Wires can still corrode, get pinched or eaten by rodents though.

But if the bulbs are burned out... you need new bulbs.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Bad ground at the socket

So this bad ground will burn a filament in a bulb?

 

[airbourneranger]

I don't think it was a burned filament. If you read what was written, he replaced the bulb and it still didn't work. Later it began to work and then switched lights.

 

[mlkary]

Get a pick and slightly bend the contacts in the socket. Fill the contact area with dielectric grease and install new bulb.