Replacing Rear Brake Lights

[kaikor]

Just less than a week after my 1st service, today a yellow light bulb warning light came up and said "Rear Right Brake Light Not Working". But how the hell can I pull out the rear panel, they are hard and stuck inside, and anyone know where the best place to get GOOD quality brake bulbs, and which bulb do our GTi used for brake lights, don't want sh|t one which burn in 2 weeks time again, THX!

[Russ59]

Just less than a week after my 1st service, today a yellow light bulb warning light came up and said "Rear Right Brake Light Not Working". But how the hell can I pull out the rear panel, they are hard and stuck inside, and anyone know where the best place to get GOOD quality brake bulbs, and which bulb do our GTi used for brake lights, don't want sh|t one which burn in 2 weeks time again, THX!

How old is the car ? You say it's just had it's first service then I would be taking it back and telling the service dept. to replace it. If the vehicle is only relatively new I would want to know why the bulb blew so soon anyway, could be a fault somewhere that needs fixing !!


Russ

[limmy]

How old is the car ? You say it's just had it's first service then I would be taking it back and telling the service dept. to replace it. If the vehicle is only relatively new I would want to know why the bulb blew so soon anyway, could be a fault somewhere that needs fixing !!


Russ

either that or someone drives pretty hard and therefore is hard on the brakes. i changed my bulbs at about 20,000kms...so i would say it's normal. i simply bought a new bulb from super cheap (has lasted me 10000kms already). bought these when i had my mk4 and the lasted me over 30,000kms. if i remember correctly, i actually bought indicator lights (not brake lights) - just look at the old bulb code and match it up.

check your manual, as instructions are in there.

you need to physically pull apart your rear light. there are two bolts on the inside, unscrew with a spanner being careful not to drop the nut below (cause it will be a pain to find if you do). holding the light from the outside, push the bolt out and the light will pop out.

put it on carpet (so you don't scratch the light surface), and you can either use a thin flathead screwdriver or force with your fingers to pop open the cluster (3 clips).

while i was at it, i bought 2 bulbs and changed both left and right side. my left side was out, and when i checked my right it was looking pretty burnt out.

[Maverick]

How old is the car ? You say it's just had it's first service then I would be taking it back and telling the service dept. to replace it. If the vehicle is only relatively new I would want to know why the bulb blew so soon anyway, could be a fault somewhere that needs fixing !!Russ

or it could just be a globe that blew. It's technology from 1802 and they do fail from time to time despite their far improved reliability.

I really doubt that the service department are going to send the globe back to the manufacturer to conduct an investigation into the cause. If there was a problem with the car you would see more then a single globe blowing in 12 months.

Replace the globe and move on

[Russ59]

or it could just be a globe that blew. It's technology from 1802 and they do fail from time to time despite their far improved reliability.

I really doubt that the service department are going to send the globe back to the manufacturer to conduct an investigation into the cause. If there was a problem with the car you would see more then a single globe blowing in 12 months.

Replace the globe and move on

What I'm really meaning by what I have posted is that if KAIKOR is having trouble trying to change the bulb or work out how to get to it then it would be better if it was done by the dealer. I know bulbs can just blow I have experienced that myself many times, I just think that it in this circumstance it may be better to seek advice or as limmy has said refer to the manual. Bare in mind that there is always a possibility that water has somehow found it's way in as well, I saw a few posts on this recently, not sure which model it was on though.


Russ

[Guest212]

blowing bulbs?

Werwy Unruckey.

[CatonaPC©]

Our previous car, a Ford Focus used to blew brake light bulbs frequently. I think in I would have had to replace a globe every 6 months or so. This is not a fault with the car, just shonky globes. The last set I bought from Repco and they're still going strong. A set I bought from Supercheap were not so good however.

[Russ59]

Our previous car, a Ford Focus used to blew brake light bulbs frequently. I think in I would have had to replace a globe every 6 months or so. This is not a fault with the car, just shonky globes. The last set I bought from Repco and they're still going strong. A set I bought from Supercheap were not so good however.

Like everything isn't it, you only get what you pay for !!

[jb747]

I must be lucky. I've only changed one bulb in the last 15 years. I wish my house behaved as well...

[85Fuego]

Guys

I have a 2005 build GOLF 2L TDI DSG, the bulbs blow every 6 months.
Doesn't matter if they are Philips bulbs or supercheap. Had the dealer check it out, he reported no fault codes logged.

All i can say is that i've replaced more bulbs on this car than every other car i've had.
They suggested that the hatch being slammed contributes to the bulbs blowing.

I would suggest its the dual state of operation of the bulb (5W then 21W) as there is no dual element.

I agree the bulbs are a bitch to get out - eventually the little plastic holding tags will break.

Other suggestions?

[bazzle]

Guys

I have a 2005 build GOLF 2L TDI DSG, the bulbs blow every 6 months.
Doesn't matter if they are Philips bulbs or supercheap. Had the dealer check it out, he reported no fault codes logged.

All i can say is that i've replaced more bulbs on this car than every other car i've had.
They suggested that the hatch being slammed contributes to the bulbs blowing.

I would suggest its the dual state of operation of the bulb (5W then 21W) as there is no dual element.

I agree the bulbs are a bitch to get out - eventually the little plastic holding tags will break.

Other suggestions?

Maybe LED taillight globes with power resistors.?

Bazzle

[anarchycamp]

yep mine seem to go all the time as well....is a minor annoyance....become an expert at changing them though

those plastic tabs that hold the unit in are a bit tight though!

[Maverick]

Maybe LED taillight globes with power resistors.?

Bazzle

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo



For a start LED replacement tail lights make your car unroadworthy (note not talking about the replacement OEM LED housings but the cheap useless plug in replacements)

They won't work correctly with the Golf anyway with the single filament setup.

LED replacements don't put out anywhere near the amount of light as the incandescent globe as the light fitting and reflector was designed for a incandsescent globe. Every OEM LED brake light you see has the LED's facing directly backwards NOT being bounced into a reflector and then backwards.

Reliability of the LED units is often an issue as they are not well built and you can lose parts into the housing.

Sorry but it's a shocking suggestion for any car not just the Golf

[blutopless2]

our new beetle has had one tail light globe replaced in 5 years... however the front right bumper indicator gets replaced at least once a year... funny how the same one seems to go.
even funnier how the globe is not blown but will not function when installed into the lamp holder and screwed into the car. it works when out of the car tho.

[Maverick]

our new beetle has had one tail light globe replaced in 5 years... however the front right bumper indicator gets replaced at least once a year... funny how the same one seems to go.
even funnier how the globe is not blown but will not function when installed into the lamp holder and screwed into the car. it works when out of the car tho.

The car tests the globes and if they fall outside specifications it shuts down the power to that socket. If that globe is drawing too much power it won't operate in the car but will when connected directly to a battery.