So, i have a 97 dakota with a taillight out. The brake light works fine though. They are the same bulb. I tried getting a new bulb but that is not the problem. Any ideas?

 

Get a meter or test light &and check the socket.

 

i think the bulb has 2 filaments in it and one of them could be burnt out w/o the other so i wuold try that first just put the new bulb in when you get it

 

Dual filament 3157. Same as the ones up front.

 

I checked the light socket with a volt meter today. It is getting power to the contacts, and the bulb fits in there tight. I know the bulbs are good. My only guess is that the contacts between the socket and light are not contacting correctly, but i have no idea why. They look perfectly straight and like i said the bulb fits tight. Any Ideas???

 

does the turn signal light work? And also do you have a trailer wiring harness on your truck?

 

It almost 99% that its just not contacting like you said. Try really forcing the bulbs in there. If it is getting power then it has to be a problem with the contacts on the bulb. Maybe a contact got bent in there and just needs to be moved back.

 

check your wiring, i had the exact same problem a few months ago and turns out i just had a broken wire.

 

Could it even possibly be a ground wire not connecting?

 

Thanks for the tips guys. It was a broken wire.