I recently installed a new "instant on" fixture in my closet with a self installed pull chain, and the bulb will not light. I have done this 3 times previously the same way without issues. I have checked the feed with both a meter and incandesant fixture and both indicate power OK. The bulb and fixture I installed were new. I have since returned fixture, believing a defect, purchased a second, only to find out it acts the same way. I have checked the bulb(pin) alignment in the sockets, and that is fine. I can get the bulb to light sometimes by just touching(not moving) it with my finger. I disconnected the switch and direct wired the fixture to see if teh switch was the culprit, still no luck. At times the bulb would glow on the ends, appearing to start to light, but never reach full on. I tried the same bulb in different fixture, it works fine. I tried an old working bulb in the new fixture and it would not light. The fixture is grounded to the box it is fed from. Help please! this is driving me crazy.....

 

you probably have an open neutral in your splice. check the neutral connections in the box. If you moved or adjusted the wiring in any other box, check those connections too.

 

You say the fixture is grounded to the box - is the box properly grounded back to the panel? Do you read 120 volts between the hot and the ground? I have had fluorescent fixtures before that would not come on because they were not grounded. Simply touching the bulb would do the trick, as you described.

I have had more problem with the shorter length fixtures. Never had any problem with 4' fixtures. One thing you can do to verify if it is a grounding problem is to connect the neutral to the white on the ballast AND the fixture case. If the fixture works properly, then you have a grounding problem.