Dongoesby

It is the stop light where behind the rear window, it is in the model before year 93 only I guess. Well, it has two light bulbs in it, one went out, so I bought a new bulb, but it doesn't work. So then I swap them, it new one worked in the other spot, but the one working bulb didn't work after the swap. Then I took the whole assemply out, I found out a black wire had spliced and electric taped. Is this what caused the problem, or other reasons?

Thanks guys