Toyota Repair: electrical short, toyota corolla dx, toyota corolla

Question
I have a 1997 toyota corolla dx 4 dr sedan automatice 1.8 ltr 4 cylinder.  When I push the button to switch into any gear the clock, radio, and lighter stop functioning.  Sometimes the radio plays when i turn on the car but as soon as I press the button it stops...Occasionally the radio, clock and lighter pop on and off while driving.  The clock keeps its correct time so I didnt think it was a fuse.  Previously shift button wouldn't press and I would have to change a fuse everythime i got in the car...that problem was solved when I went for an inspection and the attendant said there was a short in the tail light due to a bulb...he changed the bulb and the car never had a problem until this. When I went for an oil change recently I was informed that the tail light needed to be replaced.  They replaced the tail light and now the problem with the clock, radio and lighter has begun.  I had also had problems with the dome light but I have put in a new bulb and no problems so far.  There was a call back on toyota corolla's for some glitch but i never took the car back I dont remember what it was for but I dont believe it has something to do with this...I dont know if this is related. Also the light that shows drive reverse etc is outand has been for quite sometime with no other problems to the car.  I dont want to put a whole lot of money into looking into the electrical system if it is something simple that I can do myself.  Is it possible that a wrong size or whatt tail light was put in again this time?  Also I have not had a battery put in since 2001 but I have not driven the car that much since...If you have any advice please let me know....  

Answer
Remove the rear light assemblies with the bulb holders and remove all the bulbs and check for any signs inside where the bulbs go for any sign of melting or burning, check the white/black wire ground points, make sure they are tight, make sure the bulbs are not mixed up, some have a single contact and some have two, installing one in the wrong socket can cause problems like this.