Stop light problem

I have a 96 Camaro RS V6 3.8 L. One of the rear stop lights on the left side of the car does not work. It's the second one (close to the center of the car) on the left side of the car. (@ @ ---trunk--- @ @)

I changed the bulb, it won't help. Then I changed the socket, it does not help either. When I turned on the parking switch. The broken light is still on, but it does not work when the brake pedal is pushed down.

BTW, when I got a new socket. I did not put the yellow jelly stuff into the socket. Will that be a problem? Or where might be the problem?


Thanks for any replies.

Have a nice weekend.

The Jelly stuff is often referred to as Dielectric grease, it's just there to help make a connection between the socket and the light bulb. If the light is working at all the grease is not the problem, but still go get some and use it. My question to you is, did you get the correct bulb for it? I believe the bulb you need has dual elements, one is for just having the tail lights on (which is working) and the other is for the brake light (which is not). Otherwise I would start looking for a loose connection or a broken wire...

Dear CamarosRsweet94,

Thans for your reply!

I think I got the correct bulb. It has two elements, and it works for the other sockets.

One weired thing is that when the parking switch is on, actually the thicker element, which should be for brake is on.

I will check the connection and wire later.


The Jelly stuff is often referred to as Dielectric grease, it's just there to help make a connection between the socket and the light bulb. If the light is working at all the grease is not the problem, but still go get some and use it. My question to you is, did you get the correct bulb for it? I believe the bulb you need has dual elements, one is for just having the tail lights on (which is working) and the other is for the brake light (which is not). Otherwise I would start looking for a loose connection or a broken wire...

BTW, is it normal for two wires to control both parking and brake signal? The old socket was connected via two wires, while both the new and the old sockets have three wires.


Dear CamarosRsweet94,

Thans for your reply!

I think I got the correct bulb. It has two elements, and it works for the other sockets.

One weired thing is that when the parking switch is on, actually the thicker element, which should be for brake is on.

I will check the connection and wire later.

If the other socket (on the otherside of the license plate) has three wires than this one probably should too. I would check into that.