Brake light in spoiler not working

LAN's GTI · Post by **LAN's GTI** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 4:35 pm

My rear brake light (standard GTI) in the spoiler is not working. Checked fuses etc. and they seem ok. removed brake light from spoiler and it was full of water! couldn't see a wiring plug or anything. was wondering if spoiler has to come off to change light? Looks like it might be a trip to the dealer unless anyone out there can help. Mark

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:33 pm

Had a quick check, but it doesn't seem like the spoiler has to come off completely. Which is a good thing, since it's glued on.

The light should have a small screw holding it in the spoiler, plus a cable coming into it from the spoiler itself. Perhaps you can check the cable for cracks? Isn't the 3rd light made up of several smaller lights? It seems highly unlikely that the light has to be replaced completely if one of the small lights (leds?) have gone out.

LAN's GTI · Post by **LAN's GTI** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:49 pm

The cable to the light is soldered to the LED circuit board and you can't see a wiring plug before where it enters the spoiler, this is why I thought the spoiler may have to come off. The spoiler on my GTI is bolted to the body of the car and looks to have a foam sealing strip between. maybe this is letting the water into my brake light

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 5:54 pm

theres might be a grommet in the upper edge (the lower horizoonta; edge ) thats got a plug behind
if this is the case when you pull the light out tie some string to the plug or else its a pain to get back in position

LAN's GTI · Post by **LAN's GTI** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:05 pm

Thanks 2K, just wanted to find the plug so I can check there's power there before I order a new light. Any Ideas about the water in the light?

mkone · Post by **mkone** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 4:37 pm

Had the same problem myself and couldnt find a plug so snipped the black cabling. I then connected an ordinary 12V bulb to the red and black wires that were housed in the black cable that went to the LED brake light and tested, power went through OK. The fault was in the LED unit. Contacted my local VW they said it was a sealed unit and had to be completely replaced, total cost for new LED brake light Â£27.50. Soldered it back on hey presto!

Hope you manage to get it sorted!

Mark

LAN's GTI · Post by **LAN's GTI** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 5:58 pm

Thanks.