Mine lights up like a Christmas tree when the white bulb holder is not aligned properly. The little tits on the tailight itself are compromised and the bulb socket can travel further than it should, replace your reverse lights and give it a 64th to an 8th of a turn and then avoid pot holes. I think you're on the right track for looking for bad wires. I found a bad strectch going to the liscens plate lights and the actual plate light bulb holder was grounding out with metal to metal contact. The state trooper was kind enough to let me know my lights were out, so after posting bail I fixed her up good, F'n tailights.