Backup Lights on 72 Overlander

[mccrosti]

Good Afternoon Friends!

I've been working on a wiring issue for a few days and am kinda stumped. This is a 72 Overlander. I pulled all four cans out of the tailights and backup lights. Cleaned them, applied rust inhibitor and painted them. When I re installed the lights I have Tail/turn signal/break lights - they work fine. But my backup lights are not working. When I put a tester on the hot wire leading to them, I see that there is power to the socket. I've kinda narrowed it down to one of two possibilities:

1) Size of bulb is incorrect. I've installed an 1156 bulb, but the manual calls for 1073. The only difference is in the Amp draw, the 1073 draws 1.8 amps the 1156 draws slightly more. I don't think this is the issue

2) Ground issue. Does the single wire socket get it's ground from making contact, can- taillight holder? In which case I'll need to wire brush the paint off the can so it will make good contact.

Advice here would be appreciated. I am scratching my head over this one.

Thanks!

Dave

[mccrosti]

And the answer is ............YES. They do ground through the can to the body. Got it.