Reverse Backup Light Out.. New Bulb Still Out Here is the Problem

[Yo Hoot]

Common problem with these years. I'm sure this has been posted before. My drivers side backup light was out but a new bulb did not fix it. Seems like the contacts overheat and destroy the connector.....

Replaced the plastic bulb holder with a new one. They are pretty cheap, like $12.

This is what a good one looks like..

Here is a sequence of the bad on after I broke the strip open...

 

[Yo Hoot]

This is how bad the contactor was corroded.

 

[Motorhead]

Looks like somehow you are getting salt infiltration or water in the strip.

 

[seafish]

Yup, water intrusion will cause rust which will increase resistance which will increase heat build-up. Looks likme it may have started at one of the screw mounting tabs...Perhaps make sure that your new tailight is well sealed when installing it, particualrly around the screw holes. Little bit of extra silicone certainly cant hurt anything.

 

[Yo Hoot]

The only way water can get in is through the front where the bulb plugs in. The light housing itself has no screws that could allow water in. The problem with my lenses is I drilled holes when I added LED "Blue Dot" lights. It was an experiment that is still going on LOL

 

[rayjay]

I want to hear more about this blue dot LED thing you have going on... lol

 

[Yo Hoot]

Back in the 50's and 60's there was the blue dot craze. Drill a hole in the tail light lens exactly in line with the light and install a glass blue crystal lens. The mixing of blue and red gave you a piercing pink. I did the same except instead of the glass crytal i used an blue LED. Drilled a hole in the side of the light housing for the wires.

 

[RDeFayette]

use dielectric silicone when installing new tailight circuit boards and bulbs helps the overheating contact issue a lot.
Never re-use bulbs with hot or melted contacts or you'll be replacing the circuit boards again in short order.