So last night when I left my parent's house, I got a text to check my license plate lights from my dad. Instead of risking a ticket, i went back to the house and saw one of the lights was out. I opened and closed the hatch, and the other one went out. Then it came back on...
one bulb was burned out, one was not. every time i tapped the "good" bulb it would flicker or go off, and then it quit.

This wouldn't be a huge deal, except for that this is probably the 4th or 5th time i've had to change those lights, the last time being only a couple of months ago.

I've been replacing them with the regular GE 194/w5w's that they sell all over the place.

Is anyone else having this problem, or do I have a short or something?

 

They might just be crappy bulbs. Or maybe the contacts are dirty. You can clean the sockets up with some alcohol.

I've put LEDs in mine and I haven't looked back since.

 

are you touching the bulbs with your bare hands?

 

It might be the bulbs, i guess I'll try another brand, as they went out at the same time...
I just hope it's not the wiring or something.

they're not headlights, bare hands shouldn't affect them

 

Yea, they're just incandescent bulbs. He can handle em however.

 

Try a nail file, sliver of sandpaper or ??? and insert it into the bulb receptacle. There might be some corrosion.

 

My drivers side plate light goes out, I can tap on it and it will re-light.
I am watching this thread.

 

Q: which leds work for us?

 

I have these and they're awesome.
http://superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/s...=CAR#WLED-xHP6

 

which one, there are like a million

 

The link shoulda taken you directly to it.
WLED-xHP6 Wedge Base Bulb

 

I've got similar ones. They look good. Here is a comparison

 

im retarded

 

thanks for the tips.
as of now, they are working...
I wonder if bumpy roads or frequent use of the hatch damages the bulbs...