What's wrong with the flourescent light over my kitchen sink?

Kenneth Lavelle
by Kenneth Lavelle
I turn on the light and it will not turn on unless I tap the end of the tube with my finger.

  8 answers
  • William William on Oct 07, 2017

    The bulb prongs are not making a solid connection with the brass tabs in the brackets. Make sure the power is off to the fixture. Remove the bulb. You will see two brass tabs in each bracket. Use a small screwdriver, tip of a knife and slightly bend the tabs towards the center. Replace the bulb.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 07, 2017

    Need a new starter ( small round thing)

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Oct 07, 2017

    Sounds like a short somewhere. If you put in a new bulb and it does the same thing, you can start with replacing the starter, or get a new fixture.

  • Claude Claude on Oct 07, 2017

    New bulb?

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Oct 07, 2017

    try a new bulb first and if that doesn't fix it then more than likely the balast is bad and the fixture needs replacing. They wear out all the time

    • William William on Oct 07, 2017

      Ballast either is good or bad. No in between. Light works with a tap. Just a loose bulb.

  • Lynn sheedy Lynn sheedy on Oct 07, 2017

    Tighten the bulb

  • Big lulu Big lulu on Oct 07, 2017

    That ususally means your bulb is getting close to burning out. Yes, first try replacing the bulb.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Oct 07, 2017

    It needs a new bulb or ballist. (Check that spelling).

    • William William on Oct 07, 2017

      Ballast is either good or bad. No in between. Tapping the tube means not making full contact.