The "side" of the bulb does not have voltage per se. It is the ground. The bayonet pins do most of the grounding. Your test light must have glowed green as you completed the ground (ice pick tip is "more positive"). Should have glowed red when touching contact down inside socket and alligtor clip on some kind of chassis ground..
If the socket and bulb is hanging, there is no ground for the socket. The test light must be supplying it. You are also not testing the "as is" ground for the socket to dash.
As the bulb is hanging, add a jumper wire from the socket metal to a good known ground. No test light involved. Operate lever both ways.This will confirm a ground issue.
Report what happens
Please confirm: When bulb was mounted in dash, the left front and rear bulbs flashed bright, as well as the indicator bulb. The right F and R bulbs flashed bright but indicator did not flash. All with ignition key on.
Replacing bulb with a known good bulb would be a fast check.
Last edited by bartamos; 07/09/2025 12:32 AM. Reason: added last paragraph
