Two middle bulbs failed to light on 3rd brake light.

Turned out all 4 bulbs were ok, but sockets were cooked, especially middle two. Obvious contact resistance.

 

time for a replacement of the sockets, fun wow!

 

Like Blue said sounds like a new socket is needed! What happens sometime's is corrosion get in the socket causing a poor connection , which cause's overheating, a loose connection can also do the same! While checking make sure all connection's are tight. Please post on what you find and what you do!



Thanks

 

No. Cleaned up contacts, flooded sockets with WD40, popped in new bulbs (filiments ok, but contacts not worth fixing up) and good enough is good enough.

Since all 4 sockets were cooked, parts are bad; or perhaps, but not likely, bad assembly. Tons of tan grease was packed into sockets. Dissimilar contact metals could be underlying culprit.

Since unit is in nice environment inside car, I would expect essentially infinite service - based on experience with 20 - 30 y old cars.

 

Good deal. But keep an eye on them anyways, as I have had overheating issues like that with tail light bulbs, melting the plastic around the metal bases, requiring new tail light assemblies. And they weren't cheap.

tip for you: to clean the contacts on the end of the bulb bases, rub them on the sidewall of a tire - it cleans and burnishes the contacts nicely.