Old bulbs that have gotten overly warm will sometimes melt and deform the lead contacts, making for poor or intermittent contact. New bulb to fix. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

> On Oct 26, 2013, at 6:16 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> It's possible that the contact(s) in the bottom of the bulb socket is so corroded or bent they don't have enough spring to make good contact on the bulb.  Try prying it up a bit, and if it breaks off you need a new tail light assembly!
> 
> Stuart
> '85 Westy
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Lauterbach
> Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2013 5:58 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Intermittent right rear stoplight '84 Vanagon
> 
> The right rear stoplight on my '84 is being problematic.  I have tried
> several different bulbs, bulb grease, cleaning contacts, etc.   The
> taillight and directional signal light work correctly and consistently.
> I can have the stoplight working after I put everything back together and screw the light assembly back into the van.  Within days it will stop working, but as soon as I take things apart, it will start working again.
> 
> What is best solution to this problem?
> 
> John