Rear left brake light prone to failure?

[DbqJoe]

So I was stopped at a red on a busy intersection when behind me a state trooper pulled up behind me. As soon as the lights go green I see his lights go off. Pulled over and he told me my left rear brake light was out.

This is probly the 3rd or 4th time this particular light has gone out. Replacing it is simple enough, even a dope like me can do it. But I wonder if this is a common problem with the 2000 SSEi? IIRC my old 89 boneville only had its rear brake light replaced once in the 10 years I had it.

Well at least I know now, as I would have never known it was out unless a good samaritan told me so (like the last time it went out when I was waiting in a parking lot). Just wish I was on a different road, not a busy road with lots of traffic. How embarrassing. Well there goes my 11 year record of not being pulled over...

[00Beast]

Did he give you a fix-it ticket? Were both bulbs out or just one? It's not technically illegal unless both are burned out. I'd be looking at the brand you're using. I've had to replace a few bulbs, but switching to a higher quality brand bulb has always solved my issues. Sylvania's seem to be the best. Look for corrosion and chafing on the wires to ensure that the bulb is getting full voltage.

[DbqJoe]

Yeah let me off with a warning and told me to fix it. Its always the rear left light. I forgot what brand I used, Im pretty sure it was Sylvania's too.

[00Beast]

I'd check the socket and wiring out then.

[DbqJoe]

Well actually it was the rear right, not left one this time. Thought for sure the officer said it was the left. Anyway I replaced it Sylvania 37 something or another. Works fine. Just hope this one lasts for 6 months. I did look at the socket and wiring and nothing out of the ordinary.

[Oldman]

If the left brake light goes out all of the time, it's because you always press the brake pedal with your left foot. Try alternating between pressing the pedal with your left foot and right foot and the brakes will wear evenly and your bulbs will last the same amount of time.

[Oldman]

I really hope nobody believed that last post was sincere! I worked at a service station in my teenage years and I once had a boss tell a man who's brakes were worn out more on the left that the right that this was the reason for his problem. The guy was a regular. We replaced the pins and little boots for the brake caliper pins, knowing that these parts not allowing the calipers to operate correctly usually caused this problem. About 3 years later, he came in and told us that he had just changed his pads on the front and that they had worn evenly even though he had only been braking with his right foot about a quarter of the time and only when we first told him that this was causing the problem!!

Hope everyone got the joke. My screen name is "oldman", but I'm not that old!!

[01bonneSC]

Are BOTH of the bulbs burning out prematurely?