bulb failure

[scots356]

wee update... bulb replaced (for all of £1 !) and system operating as new... although i must admit a very fiddly procedure for someone with big hands LOL

appreciate all your help guys...was a newbie....but think i will visit far more often now.

 

[Mudvayne]

Hi mates,

there is a known issue with the bulb sockets of the tail lights (afaik, modelyears up to 2009 might be affected):

both bulb & socket contact kind of encrust within the socket and suddenly you'll get the intermittant error ...

img69.imageshack.us/img69/1502/p1010615nw0.jpg

if experienced once, you need to clean the contacts every once in a while to prevent from corroding, or you order a new socket (5P0 945 257) and hope, it will stay clean.

greets ... Klaus


btw: reading out error messages often won't show intermittend failures, as they are deleted as soon as function comes back to normal ...
thus dealers erroneously tend to rely upon their machines instead of remembering old virtues like using their brains

Got same sh*t, bulb socket corroded, changed the bulb and everything ok

 

[dans]

As klawit says, the known issue is with the damage to the contact and the bulb due to poor electrical connection. This damages the bulb contact too so replacing the bulb can fix it for a while. My experience is that it soon comes back.
I've managed to bend the metal contact (shown in pic on earlier post) up further so that there is a better compression between the two parts and the contact is on clean metal.
Hopefully this will last a bit longer.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[jtmac]

I got the intermittant bulb failure warning before my tail/brake light failed. I wouldn't be surprise if the known fault (that Klawit posted about) is sensed by the ECU-thingy and then the fault also blows the bulb.

 

[klawit]

I got the intermittant bulb failure warning before my tail/brake light failed. I wouldn't be surprise if the known fault (that Klawit posted about) is sensed by the ECU-thingy and then the fault also blows the bulb.

Hi jtmac,

I wouldn't go that far and accuse the ECU for eating up electric parts of the car ...

when forging corrosion is interrupting the current flow, the ECU will come up with the warning ... and as soon as temperature varies (e.g. over night) the fault might be gone for a while ... until it's irrevocable.

greets ... Klaus

 

[joehirth]

I was driving behind a Altea this morning and watched a brake light fail, never came back on. Don't know why I just told you that

 

[marcdonnelly]

hey guys new to forums, i've been readin your posts as im interested as i've a seat leon 2007 an the bulb fault light is on constant. i believe this is because my side repeaters on both wings are on constant when my lights are on. previous to this happening the car had a rear door locking module fitted as it was draining the battery.. would these problems be linked, anyone come across this before??? thanks marc

 

[klawit]

Hi Marc,

I've read about the bulb fault light coming up once when the "US" option (with side indicators dimmed) is coded for the pre-facelift model (up to my2008).

Maybe the electrical system ECU 09-[3C|1K]0937049 needs a proper recoding.

Byte 07 might be holding a percentage value for dimmed indicators (standard setting = hex"00").

In addition, there is the diagnostic bit (for bulb fault checking) for side indicators:
same ECU, byte 18 bit 7 ... which should be OFF to keep it from complaining.

To have a slightly better understanding, I used the current ECU setting of my ALTEA (which is individual and not to be copied 1:1) to show you these options:




Hope, this will help you solving or at least approaching your issue.

greets ... Klaus

 

[pdh 14a]

Just a heads up,i changed my rear light bulb this week,and there was no plastic strap on the light unit,just came out in my hand! its a swb 2005 my

 

[klawit]

Just a heads up,i changed my rear light bulb this week,and there was no plastic strap on the light unit,just came out in my hand! its a swb 2005 my

The "plastic strap" (red arrows) mentioned in previous posts is not holding the unit itself, but secures the bulbous plasic screw fixing the unit from the inside of the car (green arrow):



greets ... Klaus

 

[pdh 14a]

Ahh right! Cheers Klaus

 

[AjMFreetrack]

I have had this intermittent fault for ages and wondered about the contact but never really had a good look. Just have and it is corroded, now fixed!! Must have put about 6 bulbs in there first!

 

[Slime]

Hi mates,

there is a known issue with the bulb sockets of the tail lights (afaik, modelyears up to 2009 might be affected):

both bulb & socket contact kind of encrust within the socket and suddenly you'll get the intermittant error ...





if experienced once, you need to clean the contacts every once in a while to prevent from corroding, or you order a new socket (5P0 945 257) and hope, it will stay clean.

greets ... Klaus


btw: reading out error messages often won't show intermittend failures, as they are deleted as soon as function comes back to normal ...
thus dealers erroneously tend to rely upon their machines instead of remembering old virtues like using their brains

Sorry to resurect a VERY old thread but I too have the same issue as the OP.
I think klawit has the answer but I have two questions, please.
1. what's the best way to clean said corroded contacts?
2. How can I view the image in klawit's post?

Many thanks and apologies for bringing up an old thread.
I assumed it was better than starting a new one on a covered topic!

Cheers guys.

P.S. The picture is in post #14