my blinker started blinking very fast so i went and bought a new bulb. the new bulb didnt fix the dead light, anything else i can easily check before taking this puppy to the dealership?

 

Clean the socket and bulb contacts plus the bulkhead (harness) connector contacts. A little contact cleaner and plug and unplug each a few times immediately after the spray. I had sequentials that began acting up. Turned out to be a dirty contact in the bulkhead connector.

 

Also, make sure the new bulb is fully inserted in the socket.
If that's ok, then make sure it has 2 filaments. One filament illuminates when the headlights or parking lights are turned on, and the other filament illuminates when either the brake pedal is pressed or the turn signal is activated. If it has only one filament, then exchange it for one that has 2.
If it has 2 filaments, then interchange it with the other existing bulb that illuminates in the same taillight when either the brake pedal is pressed or the turn signal is activated. If the new bulb still does not work and the existing bulb works ok, then the new bulb is bad. If the new bulb works ok and the existing bulb does not work, then there's something wrong either with the socket where the original dead light was installed, or with the main connector - corroded contact(as suggested by Nuke), or a loose or broken wire.

 

Check the ol water leak/corrodded SmartJunctionBox....