I have a voltmeter and multimeter but not sure how to use to detect either a bad switch of bad light socket. I think I check continuity on the switch with the power off with the multimeter but how to check the light socket? Thank you.
Steven--Hopefully someone will see your post and help. My husband should be home in a little while and I can ask him; he's good with that kind of stuff.
Odds are that it's the switch, unless you damaged the socket. You could use a non-contact voltage tester at the light assembly to see if there's power reaching it when the switch is On. If there's power reaching it, then you know the switch works and the socket is bad. If there's no power reaching it, odds are that the switch is bad. $13 at Lowes. link I don't know how these sense power without making contact. If you hold them near an outlet and there's power running to it, it lights up (some of them will beep.) This is the safest thing to use, and they're handy to have around the house. Your other option is to pull the light fixture to get to the wires, turn on the switch, then put a meter to the wires to see if there's power...but the no-contact tester is easier and safer. Or you could go with the odds and just replace the switch. Sockets rarely go bad, while switches have a finite number of cycles to their little mechanical lives. There's also a remote chance there's a wiring issue. I guess you tried more than one bulb, right?