That reminded me to do the same with my lights. Had the same problem several years back and only now did I lose the bulb. Quick trip to the hardware store for me.
TED
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Now What??
POKE HIM IN THE EYE!!
POKE HIM IN THE EYE!!
If the grease doesn't cure it, it might be a heat problem. Trace back to the 1st splice and check for corrosion which will cause a resistance in the wire. As the resistance increases with heat, the the voltage will be dropped across the splice and not the lamp. Does the lamp slowly get dimmer or does it just turn off. That might give you a clue to the problem
Old Fart; once the bulb goes out; it stays out. If I let it cool down and try the next day, it still is out. I swear, it's almost like a thin film of some kind forms to interupt the connection. I wish the bulbs would blow; it would be easier to diagnose. I hope the grease helps form a more consistant contact and takes care of the problem.
It has gotten to the point where if I go out to fish the evening bite, I go out about an hour before dark, fish until about an hour/hour and a half after dark, turn my running lights on for the trip back to the dock (20 min.) and I can count on the bulb to last maybe two or three trips; total an hour for the bulb. One or both will need replacing after three trips. And both sides (I have a seperate red and green) act the same.
It's not that bad to change the bulb, but I hate it when one dies on the run home and I have to worry about DNR police.
Several years ago, my mechanic even checked the motor to make sure it was putting out the proper voltage. It's been a minor problem for a long time.
5th (Marty)
have you tried taking it out and puting the same bulb back in? Both bulbs work off a single power feed so it's not like a separate feed like on turn signals. Can you get to it to put a meter on it, can you pull the lense and tap the bulb, being that it is both bulbs makes me think its a problem in the wiring and not the sockets.
It's just a crap design - the contacts aren't that tight to start with. If you spin the bulb with thumb and forefinger while it's still in the contacts it should come on. You can try taking the bulb out, squeezing the contacts slightly toward the center to tighten them up and push the bulb back in.
Marty, think Mikie is right now that I understand the bulb configuration. After using the grease see if you can tie a knot with braid and pull the two contacts together, I believe that the sockets have a ear at the top if they are what I think they are. Worse case if you can pull the light ass'y off replace them with bayonet sockets
I've seen battery terminals in boats and trucks that were not tight develope a corrosion around them.
Sounds similar to what you have going on.
Bulbs should last a long time. I've only replaced mine once in 13 seasons.
Sometimes they get left on all day - I forget to turn them off once sun is up
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