Left Front Clearance Light & Camera Problem

[CA Fisherman]

I have a perplexing problem, portions of which I have seen discussed but not exactly as I am experiencing.

When driving during the day and clearance and headlights are off everything is fine.

If clearance lights or headlights are on, the left camera always shows up on the in dash board mounted monitor and the left front clearance light near the left front camera does not illuminate.

When I switch clearance light bulbs with the right front clearance light the problem does not move. The left from clearance light does not light and the bulb moved from the left front clearance light works just fine in the right front clearance light socket. Using a DVM I measure 12 VDC in the clearance light socket. I adjusted the contacts so they hold the bulb tighter however problem still exists.

Will appreciate any ideas on root case of problem, additional tests to perform or corrective action.

[abjb]

Sounds like a broken/corroded ground.
Did you measure 12v from 1 pin to the other?

Or like most people (me) did you measure from 1 pin to a convenient ground (bolt, negative side of the battery)?

[CA Fisherman]

I measured voltage from one pin to the other. Bad ground is about all I can think of, except by measuring 12 VDC from one pin to the other I figured (perhaps incorrectly) that ruled out a faulty ground. Light worked perfectly for a couple of years, just developed this issue.

[ben31]

I had a heck of a problem troubleshooting a taillight issue. I had to check the whole daisy chain of wiring (far from the actual trouble spot). I found a single ground wire in a bunch shoved into a butt connector. One of the wires only had one strand (of the braid) touching the rest and it was barely touching the other wires. Once I replaced this butt connector and all of the wires were touching, everything then worked fine and I have had no more issues.

[CA Fisherman]

I tried an additional test. I removed the clearance light bulb and everything works fine whether lights are on or off, except of course the clearance light does not light. Not ideal however at least the turn signals and cameras work properly. Now my best guess is a problem with the clearance light assembly.

[CA Fisherman]

I happened to notice this afternoon that when the left turn signal was activated the amber light by the headlights did not blink as it should. I managed to half crawl into the engine compartment and remove the bulb, which looked fine, then reinserted it into the plug and light assembly. That caused everything to work including the previously non-illuminating left front clearance light. If/when this happens again I know what to do first.

My thanks to everyone who responded to this thread.

[abjb]

YEP should have suggested that first, sorry.
Contact cleaner and dielectric grease for EVERY outside bulb.

[chrisbailey13]

I had the same problem. I had purchased side clearance lights, clearance light sockets, and couldn't figure it out.
It turned out to be the front signal light was loose in the socket.