2007 Dakota - Blowing Tail Light Fuses

I have a '07 Dodge Dakota SLT 8 cyl.

My passenger tail light has been out for a awhile even after I changed the bulb. The brake and blinker lights work but not the running light. I took apart the socket and found the connector a bit corroded so I cleaned it up a bit and still did not have a light. I then followed the wires back to the fuse box and did not find any issues. I then found the fuse and it was blown. I replaced the fuse and turned on the lights and finally had light. When I walked back to the fuse box I head the fuse blow. I turned off the lights, unplugged the bulb and smelled a burnt smell. The base of the bulb appeared to have like an oil substance on it and inside the socket had the same substance. Below is a picture of the socket. Not sure if it is oil or what it could be and how it would have gotten in there.

My questions are, how do I now clean the substance out of the socket and what could be my overall problem?

 

That one light is on it's own fuse ?? Usually all the parking/tail lights are on the same fuse.

Could that be some kind of water displacing grease ?
I've found that after a socket gets burned.... replace it or it will constantly be a problem.

 

Yes there is a fuse for each side. I was surprised as well. I took the left side fuse out and that light went out and put it into the right side and the right side went on but shortly after the fuse popped again.

Do you think my problem is that there was moisture in the socket all along and by putting a new fuse in it it created some type of grease? In any event is this socket reusable and what can I clean it out with without leaving further residue?

 

You could use a spray contact cleaner.

 

Just got done cleaning all the contacts and drying everything out and was confident that it would now work. I replaced the fuse after putting socket and bulb back together and turned on the lights. I ran to the back of the truck and smoke was rising from where the socket and the bulb meet. I tuned the lights off but by that time the fuse blew again. I pulled the bulb and the grease/ oil substance was present on it again. I wonder if there is a short somewhere and that is pulling fluid from the bulb but I am not even close to an electrical novice so I'll need input on that. Lastly I cleaned the bulb and put it back in the socket. I tested both the brake and signal lights and they work fine.

What could be the problem? This is getting very frustrating. Please help.

 

You need to change the socket, there is no fluid in the bulb.

 

It is very strange as the socket was bone dry yet there still seems to be some kind of moisture in it. Do I need to change the connection that attaches to the socket as well? That had corrosion in it maybe the moisture sits in that. I found on line that the only way to get the socket is with the light cover and not by itself but I have not found where to get the connector or plug that is at the end of the wires that plugs into the socket. Any idea where I can shop for these and just the socket itself?

 

RockAuto, shows this part: AIRTEX / WELLS Part # 1P1526, It looks like the one you have in your hand but I can't tell for sure.