Just tried to replace my burnt-out tail lights bulbs today. I was pretty successful--replaced three of the five bulbs that were burnt out.

However, the two bulbs on the very end of the passenger side and driver side were basically "infused" into the socket. It took me around 20 minutes to get both of the old bulbs out. When I took them out, I noticed the socket was surrounded with green goop stuff and a small peice of metal had fallen out of the bottom of the socket. Suffice it to say, the new bulbs did not work when I replaced them.

Can someone tell me what that green crap was in the socket, and how I would go about fixing the end brake lights on my car? Will I have to remove my old sockets and get new ones and wire them?

 

The green goop probably was dielectric grease that got contaminated some how. Also pep boys and other parts stores should have the sockets you need with pigtails for easy wiring.

 

Ok, thanks.

Should I clean the "dielectric grease" from out of the sockets? What exactly does it do?