What the hell happened lol, lights came back on without replacing bulbs

[Mike 2121]

Last week, my license plate light AND front side light both went at the same time, which seems almost impossible, then a few days later my side light mysteriously came back on and I gently tap the license plate light and that came back on ! What's going on ! ??

[TonyHSD]

27 minutes ago, Mike 2121 said:

Last week, my license plate light AND front side light both went at the same time, which seems almost impossible, then a few days later my side light mysteriously came back on and I gently tap the license plate light and that came back on ! What's going on ! ??

That normal but they will not last long, perhaps few more day no more. Get a good Osram w5w bulbs and change them all with new. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10x-Genuine-Osram-Original-12v-W5W-501-W2-1x9-5d-5w-Clear-Bulbs-2825-/351229021027?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Front ones are tricky and you have to undo the grill top clips located under bonnet rubber seal. Do both sides front and rear. 👍

[Cyker]

Buddy had a similar thing with his Auris' high brake lights; was going to replace them but couldn't find suitably cheap parts. Later they started working again, we suspect due to a particularly nasty pothole   Suspect it was jogged loose and jogged back in again or something??

Electrical contacts do develop a patina of corrosion over time too, esp. in damper parts of the country, which can cause intermittent weirdness like this, esp. with the vibrations and shocks from poorly maintained road surfaces shaking contacts and connectors around...

[Mooly]

I had a strange one the other week. Our 19yr old Corolla passed its MOT but they said was I aware the reversing lights were not working (not part of the test on older cars apparently). I didn't know but knew they worked in the past. Well both bulbs had failed, both failures were identical and a new one on me. The filaments are intact but the filament to support crimping on one end has gone high resistance/open circuit in each bulb. You can see the while deposits at the crimping. Two bulbs and all good. Halfords were cheapest unbelievably at £2 something or other for a twin pack.