I grew up in a mechanic's house.
My dad taught me to defend myself against this kind of crap.
It's possible that your light is, in fact, responsible -- because either somebody hooked it up wrong, or in changing the light, one of the wires to/from that circuit was pinched, broken, or rubbed bare in a way that lets it, intermittently, contact bare metal and/or another wire (they're called 'wiring harnesses' for a reason).
If you're hearing a click from the light itself, chances are somebody hooked something up wrong. Do your hazard lights work properly?
Is the flasher burned out?

with all the details of my 10 year old car's plight, but suffice it to say that they are working on it now, and haven't called me to tell me what's wrong. but my Stern Male Relative stood behind me menacingly while i explained the problem, so i'm confident that i'll get better treatment this time.

The tappet Brother's on NPR. ( Car Talk)

The tendency for mechanics to make their boat payments off of female customers is a sad and too often told tale that these guys often point out.

Try giving them a call and seeing if they have any suggestions on how to gain satisfaction with out the use of a flame thrower or other unpleasent device.

They have, or used to, a list of mechanics compiled from listeners who are either recommended by the listeners. They have ( had? haven't been there for a while) a part of the evaulation how they listen to women customers.

Go to: http://www.cartalk.com/

Scroll down, right hand corner, “Mechanics Files” to locate ones recommended by listeners.

Haven’t been to a dealer for a very long time, unless your car is still on warranty there really isn’t any good reason to. Find a shop that doesn’t include “Scam all women” as an employee mandate. Any place that does repairs without your express authorization, even “small” ones, is a ripoff outfit and I would never go back, not even for the Five Star discount.

Some men are pigs. Some are not. Sorting them out is part of your job description – its one of those items in the fine print. :-)

for your little mind to understand. But keep sending in your campaign contributions and doing the legwork to get Dems elected.

I hear the same kind of condescending Sexist Auto Mechanic tone when I listen to Dem Congresscritters tell progressives that what they want is impossible. Why? It's complicated. Leave it to the expert professionals OK? [pats collective heads]

The easiest way to turn one off is to start with "ever since" when you come into the shop.

A pinched wire where only a couple strands are left can cause a clicking noise because of the amperage draw from the new bulb. It's probably the reason your bulb burnt out to begin with. I see this (pinched wires) when the 3rd brake light is mounted on the rear hatch instead of the body.

That said, the moron who changed it should have noticed the clicking and realized something was wrong (unless they had the prep guy do it). You don't say what type of car you have but the wiring problem could be interfering with the shift interlock (the electronics that won't let you shift out of park until your foot is on the brake) operation (probably via the neutral safety switch) that doesn't allow the car to start. I'll betcha if you rip the bulb out, the car will start. Thing is, it's a safety item and should be fixed (in NY where I am, I can't give you a sticker if any brake lights are inoperative).

Fixer's Rule #1 - There should be no surprises when you pick up your car. Before I do any repairs, I give the customer a call and tell them how much it will cost and why they need said repairs.

Fixer's Rule #2 - Dealerships operate under the assumption that people only go to them for service if they have to. Dealership prices are generally 20% - 100% higher than independents. You bring your car in for one thing and they look it over for anything else they can sell you while they have a captive audience, so to speak.

That all said, it may be a coincidence that this starting problem might be completely unrelated. Shit happens, but odds are, the 'repair' begot the starting problems.

Good luck! Email me if you have any other questions. And don't get me started on the radio and TV idiots. I look at those guys the way Anthony Bourdain looks at Rachael Ray.

and as it's still in the shop, i'm not sure what they have discovered about the problem. but you nailed it- everything you said lines up with what i've been able to do, or not, with the (late model jeep).

i guess the problem for me is that between the warranty and lack of knowing which independent mechanics to trust, i just went with default dealership. there is some logic behind this- a dealership is more than just a mechanic shop, and if you complain loudly enough, they sometimes will take action where a one-man show isn't motivated to do so. but thanks to all for the appraisal of dealerships- 100% markup is Yikes inducing!

honestly, this experience is just another link in my new chain of thinking: i need to learn how to do it myself. if i can hack doctoral level sumerian, i'm sure i can learn some basics a bout my car.

shy- titter. i will now be seeing reid and pelosi in greasy dark colored mechanic's uniforms whenver they tell us impeachment is off the table. heh.