Tail light issue - possible short? Help please

[SureShot]

yes, I searched, came up with many good tests... and thus lead me to post this topic.

Vehicle: 2001 Nissan Maxima

My taillights, 3rd brake light and drivers side "running light" do not come on when the lights are turned on... BUT, all the bulbs work. Turn signals work on both sides, the brake lights come on when the brake is pressed and the reverse lights come on when in reverse.

but when the car is running and the lights are turned on, there are no lights except the back passenger-side "running light" (the light that's a small sliver on the side of the back panel, not actually in the tail light housing).

I have checked fuses both next to the steering column, under the hood next to the battery and have checked the relay to the left of the engine... i even swapped the relay for the A/C and the tail light relay (both had the same tech info and diagram on them)...

I changed out the bulb at first just to try and see what happened. Nothing.

Ideas? I'll be taking it into the nissan dealer in the morning i guess...

[SureShot]

anyone have any thoughts?

[SureShot]

the nissan dealer replaced both bulbs and all the lights work now... WTF? both bulbs have to be working for everything in the back half of the car? crap engineering...