you are getting power to the socket? its not grounding out somewhere?

its not poping a fuse when you install the bulb?

the bulb is correct and not burnt out?


your having a basic issue somewhere, and if your wire is chafed its probably grounding, it does not take much at all to ground out, wrap it in electrical tap or shrink wrap it or something

yes power to the socket, no the rest of the wire isn't damaged (except the spot mentioned, which is away from anything to be able to ground)
it isn't popping and they are both the correct bulbs, none of the bulbs are burnt (that are being used)
this Sunday i'm gonna try and go back over to see if we can take the wire out of the socket so we can heat shrink it, otherwise we'll use electrical tape
multimeter too if i can get my hands on one

are you sure the bulb is making the proper connection to the part providing power?

i used lead wires trying both ways, the bulb that was in it had it's contacts flattened (matching the contacts of the socket)