2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - Tail Light Socket

What is a Tail Light Socket?

The tail lights are an important safety feature located on the rear of your vehicle, and are designed to help other drivers see your vehicle in low-light and inclement weather conditions. Tail lights may also include a secondary brake light filament to communicate to other drivers when your vehicle is slowing down and stopping, and may also flash to function as turn signals and hazard lights depending on the vehicle. Tail light bulbs are secured in the tail light socket, which is housed in the tail light assembly. The tail light socket holds the tail light bulb in place, and has one or more sets of contacts to connect the bulb to the wiring harness that powers the bulb and controls its various functions. If your brake light or tail light is out, the first step is to check the bulb for any damage and replace the bulb if necessary. If this still does not fix the issue, you may need a new tail light socket, or may need to complete further diagnosis on the headlight switch, tail light relay, or any related fuses. In some cases, corrosion can be cleaned from the tail light socket using an electrical cleaner, but if the tail light socket is severely damaged or the corrosion is too severe, your tail lights may still not work correctly. If your tail lights only work intermittently or don't work at all, you may need to inspect and replace your tail light socket to restore safe operation. When your car needs a tail light socket, wiring pigtail, or if the tail light bulb needs to be replaced, shop O'Reilly Auto Parts for the parts and tools to get the job done right.