<VV> No brake lights and pulling to the right (SOLVED - at least the lights for now)

[Stephen Upham]

The problem on the right side in the rear was solved when I re- 
examined the contact on the socket.  I was sanding the surface which  
was very clean, but in the effort to leave no stone untuned I did it  
anyway.  I then bent the contact prongs out a little to increase the  
contact tension.  When I did, I decided to take the bulb out in order  
not to crack it.  When I did, lo and behold, the bulb only had one  
contact on the base, BINGO!  I checked the back up light on the right  
and YEP, two contacts.  I switched the bulbs, checked the left hand  
side which was correct and reapplied the brakes.  I almost didn't see  
that I had corrected the problem because the engine lid was still up.  
The third time that I applied the brakes, I saw a faint glow on the  
garage door.  I lowered the lid and the brake light and turn signal  
on the right was working.  The problem was that the left still  
wasn't.  I took it out and adjusted the prongs.  Still, nothing.   
Then I examined the bulb, and although the filaments were intact,  
there was a scorched area at the base of the electrodes in the bulb.   
I had to compare the good bulb with it just to notice it. It was that  
slight a difference.  Anyway, when I switched bulbs the left brake  
and turn signal worked and the right didn't.  Final solution;  a new  
bulb for the right side.  Apparently I have been driving for the last  
several weeks with no turn indicators or brake lights in the rear  
(since the replacement of the main and engine harnesses).  I would  
normally bemoan my lousy luck, but right now I feel very fortunate  
that my car is not in the body shop again in the last two years and  
repairing/rebuilding the engine again in the last three years because  
someone plowed into me.

Thanks to all of you who responded.  Cudos to J. Yaros (always check  
ground first), Don Andre (check the tail light bulbs).

Stephen Upham
Dallas, Texas
President / North Texas Corvair Association
CORSA
Corvaireum II

Mid prod. #18732 -1965 Monza Hardtop 110

The Original Four Door Sports Car