UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hello.

Just had the strangest problem. Drove back after a 30 mile journey with no problems but when i got out the car i noticed the rear brake lights wouldnt go off even with the key out and front lights off..

Tried to work brake peddle incase it was just a loose connection but no luck so took it for a drive to see if that would help it. 5 mins into drive the amber coil light starts flashing at me!!!!

This has got me really confused. the only way i could get the lights off was to disconnect the battery and leave it disconnected. I was worried about resetting the ECU but this might be a good thing as maybe it will shed more light if the problem still exists tommorrow.

Has anyone had any experience with this or is this a new thing?

Brakes are most likely the brake light switch - bout a fiver to replace from a dealer

sounds like the brake light switch on the pedal, it's a trigger operated switch on the brake pedal. Get a new one from the dealer. Your old one will be black or maybe even green. New one should be purple as that's the newest variant.

New ones can be green also Depends on the model

green got replaced by purple I think you'll find.

transporter ones are green Well they were on the shelves at VW anyhow!

well they're old ones then, i'd suggest you check with the boss man at VW head office.

Just thinking bout it, 2 wire ones are green and 4 wire are purple

Thanks for the help folks. I think the brake light switch is the root of all the problems as when the brake lights go off after being on for a while the coil light stops flashing???? must be tied in somehow and the error signal is being misintrpreted?

How big/complicated a job is it to change out this switch? Is it a garage job or can a guy with a socket set and a couple of odd size screwdrivers give it a go?

Its easy - the switch just twists 45 degrees left or right (i cant remember which) and then just pull out. Disconnect the wiring and put the new switch in the reverse order. It really is that simple.

Cool thanks Alex I will get the part at luncnhtime and give it a try tonight and hopefully that solve it. Ill let you know how i get on but if this works it will have saved me a lot of time, money and hassle

Cheers

Stew

may be worth getting the car plugged in at vw to make sure about the coil light!
mine kept coming on for a while until one day on a small trip out to my uncle's (about 7 miles), weird things started happening and i eventually broke down

get it checked just to be on the safe side.