2 Dead Outlets and 1 Dead Light

So last night, 2 outlets and 1 closet light died in our bedroom. Only one of the outlets was in use at the time. All of the outlets in our bedroom are on a GFCI, but it wasn't tripped, and ALL the other outlets on that GFCI circuit are fine. When it trips, nothing works, including the currently dead outlets and light. But it didn't trip, everything else is ok. I got a voltage tester, and black to ground gives me the right reading, but black to white doesn't-with both dead outlets. I changed the 'first' outlet(since the second outlet appears to be the end of the circuit), and all the voltage readings were good on BOTH outlets. Except when I tried to use the outlet. Then those 3 things died again. A bit later(after doing nothing), the readings were fine again, so I checked the closet light. It flickered on, then it and the 2 outlets were dead again. I rewired the 2nd outlet because it was the 'push in' type connectors, and I redid them with the screws. Each change I make seems to fix the problem until I actually try to use the light or outlets. Then they die. But black to ground remains ok.

The only thing I noticed that might be off(but then why has it been working this whole time?) is that with the 2nd outlet, it has 2 wires(not counting the ground) and they were both wired to the bottom screws of their respective sides. I rewired them to the tops, just for the heck of it. No joy. Should they be 'diagonal', or does it matter? We just bought this house, and these outlets have worked for the past month with this kind of wiring.

So confused, help! Is it electrician time?

 

It could very well be electrician time. It sounds to me like you have a loose connection on the neutral wire (white). I would start at the last outlet in the circuit that works and check it to make sure that the wires from it are feeding the next outlet OK. If those are tight, I'd be willing to guess that the wires feeding the next outlet are loose. If that is not the problem, now is electrician time. Loose wires cause fires.

Good luck and let us hear what it is.

 

Well, that did it! I thought if an outlet had loose wires, it wouldn't work; but I'll be darned if tightening up the wires in the last working outlet didn't do the trick! These outlets must be female, they are not using any kind of logic-I can say that because I'm a woman Thanks a million, you're a real lifesaver! This new house has us running around in circles, this is one less worry.