Hey people,

Pretty simple, my passenger side brake light has just recently started failing occasionally. Most of the time afaik it is fine, then one day I'll get home and it'll be off. Hitting it with an open palm fixes it.
I also have the exact same issue with my driver's side fog light, which I'm assuming is just coincidental timing as I happened to be using the fogs as an indicator to make sure my auto light module is working, and noticed one was out.

Is them going off until they're hit indicative of the globe failing? I have taken the fog light out (Needed adjustment anyway) and it is something inside the fog light "unit" itself, not the wiring leading up to it. And I pulled the trim out of the trunk and checked all the wiring, jiggled it all around, nothing caught or anything. So I'm thinking globes, thoughts?

Usually that's an indication of a faulty (loose) connection somewhere. Globes either work or don't, they don't tend to have an in-between "dying" phase. I used to have that problem with my drivers low-beam on my Verada. Ended up wiring a new plug on for the globe, problem solved.

I did have a similar problem with an old falcon where the parker would only come on if I physically tapped it. I found the globe was very loose in the bayonet connection, so I just replaced the globe and it happened to be a tighter fit than the old one. Problem fixed. Could just be that simple for you also... no harm in trying it anyway, globes aren't that expensive lol

Otherwise, as Lugo said...

Usually that's an indication of a faulty (loose) connection somewhere. Globes either work or don't, they don't tend to have an in-between "dying" phase. I used to have that problem with my drivers low-beam on my Verada. Ended up wiring a new plug on for the globe, problem solved.

Damn. at least with the fog it is definitely local to the unit as when I took the light completely out and there was just the one cable running to it, it was off until I hit it a couple times on the lens with my palm, it sorta came on a flash the first couple times then stayed on. By the time I'd put it back in the car it was already non functional again. So it would have to be the globe itself loose or the connector, luckily not the wiring in the bay I shouldn't think.
No idea with the tail light. But cheers. I'll have a proper look at them tomorrow. :D

Could be a case of bad earth connection on your fogs.Recheck the fittings and remove and scrap connectors.

I have had this on my fog lights before. It was the globe coming to the end of its life. The connection in the globe had severed, but was resting as if it was connected when tapped.

Replace the globe. In my case, I replaced the entire fog light, as I had spares, and I had to fit the fog light covers anyway.

Mike

Alright cheers all, this gives me enough to go on. :D

A while back, I had a problem with a failing voltage regulator producing too high too alternator output but over the last few years my thoughts are the problem is with the cheap imported bulbs. I've found even the glue holding the glass to the holder breaks up in a short time.