How to Repair Shorted Lamps

Unplug the lamp's power cord from the wall outlet.

Remove the lamp shade and unscrew the lightbulb from the socket.

Loosen the screw in the side of the socket and switch assembly, using a screwdriver, to release the socket from the lamp base. Pull gently on the socket to remove it from the lamp base. The socket will still be attached to a pair of wires.

Slide off the metal collar on the socket and remove the insulated tube underneath to expose the two screws in the side or bottom of the socket where the wires connect. Make a note of which wire connects to which screw.

Loosen the two screws to pull off the wires. Pull the power cord from the base of the lamp gently to remove it from the fixture. Discard the old cord.

Thread the end of the new power cord into the hole at the base of the lamp, and push the cord upward toward the mounting hole for the socket. Pull the end of the new cord up through the opening for the socket.

Strip 3/4 inch of insulation from each of the two wires on the end of the power cord.

Wrap the bare wires below the head of each screw on the new lightbulb socket and switch assembly so that neither wire touches the other. Tighten the screws.

Slide the insulator tube and metal collar over the new socket and switch assembly. Lower the assembly onto the lamp's mounting hole at the top, and tighten the screw in the side of the lamp socket to hold the new assembly in position.

Screw in a light.bulb with a wattage rated for the lamp and reattach the lamp shade. You can now plug in the rewired lamp's power cord.