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one reverse light won't light

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Old 08-13-2023, 08:30 PM
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Sophocles
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Default one reverse light won't light

I have a 71 corvette with a new neutral safety switch.
The passenger side reverse light illuminates as it should and I have power going to the prong that is supposed to touch the end of the bulb on the driver's side, so I know the neutral safety switch is not the problem.
Both brake lights illuminate as they should.
Vexingly, the driver side reverse light won't light.
My voltage meter shows ~12v when I touch the prong and the side slots/channels where the bulb's nubes are supposed to make contact, but my screwdriver-shaped voltage tool doesn't light when I touch the same surfaces.
I'm using a good 1156 bulb.
Any suggestions?
Old 08-13-2023, 08:59 PM
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Peterbuilt
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You might have lost the ground inside the socket.
Attach a wire to a good ground and touch the other end of the wire to the brass part of the socket.

If the bulb lights up get a new socket.
Old 08-13-2023, 09:12 PM
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Sophocles
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Thanks. I'll try that. I still don't understand why my voltmeter would show ~12 volts when I touch it the socket's side and powered prong.
Old 08-13-2023, 09:57 PM
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calwldlife
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it is weird, I would sand the socket to improve bulb continuity?
Old 08-13-2023, 10:09 PM
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Thanks calwldlife! I used a Dremel and did that, but maybe I need to do it some more. I'm too mad/frustrated to work on it more tonight, but will give it another go soon thanks to your and Peterbuilt's suggestions.
Old 08-13-2023, 10:54 PM
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a gentle sand.
you may have to tighten the socket, squeeze gentlely
Old 09-04-2023, 03:39 PM
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Sophocles
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I wound up unbolting the ground wire going to the housing on the back side of the light housing and cleaning the connection (and improving the spices in the wire going to the far left (drivers side) housing ground. That did the trick. Thanks all for your help.
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Old 09-05-2023, 06:38 PM
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kansas123
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SIlly idea.........did you swap the bulbs around and see if the problem follows them?
Old 09-08-2023, 10:10 AM
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Default Switching bulbs as diagnostic

Originally Posted by kansas123
SIlly idea.........did you swap the bulbs around and see if the problem follows them?
I had tested the bulb. I didn’t have continuity between the negative side of the battery and the ground bolt on the light socket housing. If I had had continuity, then I think your idea would have been a great next step - to discover the bulb’s nubs were too worn down. Am I thinking straight?

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