At:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f101976
found this discussion which might be helpful:
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No surprise at all! Common problem which has been discussed several times on this site.
Basically.....tail light(s) plugs (Pig Tails) were sub-standard and cannot stand the heat of the bulbs. Pull out hear tail light fixtures, remove bulbs from recepticals and check for melting plastic, usually between the black wire (hot wire) and one or more colored wires. If so, cut out old Pig Tail, get a replacement Pig Tail, soder it in (I think about 6 wires), and use electrical shrink wrap around sodered joint, install new bulbs using Di-electric grease in the socket. Test before reinstalling light fixture.
Jack
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The poster also mentioned something I forgot; use some kind of grease in the sockets any time you have reason to access them.
The dielectric grease he mentioned is best but if you can't find (it is and electronic item, rather than electrical), even petroleum jelly will afford some protection.
I use it on battery clamps and it helps ****** the typical corrosion.
Since most cars use the chassis for ground, even the fasteners that hold in lighting assemblies can lose contact so I always loosen, then retighten them, to ensure decent ground contact.
Check too for corrosion in the light sockets themselves.
Dunno why it is so tough to seal a compartment but our US manufacturers can't seem to get it right.
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