Golf MkIV - sidelight issues!

[AdrianR]

My '02 MkIV Golf is eating sidelights. Have changed the NSR tail light 3 times (now LED to see if that lasts better) in a month, and now the NSF has given up as well.

The rear bulbs seem to silver up inside before they blow. The connectors to, and inside the tail light seem sound so maybe poor connection or earth somewhere else? Suggestions for where to look most welcome.

Thanks,
AdrianR

[Silverbullet767]

Do you have the correct fuses in?

Could be drawing too much power, maybe a sign of a faulty alternator? either that or your fitting 6V bulbs

[AdrianR]

Don't see what difference a fuse would make? Also don't see it as indicative of alternator problems as that would affect all bulbs equally, rather than NSR x3. NSF has only gone once and that's after 5 years/113K miles so could be 'normal' wearout, so I still suspect a problem with a connection to the tail light, but where?

AdrianR

[phumy]

I have a MkIV TDi and have the same problems with sidelights, i found that the connection at the bottom of each bulb holder had some kind of poor connection, a quick scratch with a sharp small screwdriver seemed to freshen the connection. No problems now.

Seems to be the metal inside the connection getting almost like a verdigre (sp) growth on it.

[raceboy]

Now I may have dreamed it but I think I read on ukmkivs that it's a good idea to change them as a pair,

[bigburd]

I think you will find it is a widespread issue with the MKIV's I have Xenon's in the R32 but it was eating front sidelight bulbs @ quite an alarming rate. So I changed them for LED bad boys that are a closer colour match to the xenon's and have and had no problems since

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XENON-SIDELIGHT-LED-VW-GOLF-...

Edited by bigburd on Friday 25th January 17:35

[AdrianR]

That was my thinking behind putting LEDs in the rear - if there is an intermittent contact the LED will be much more tolerant of it.

Swapped the front for a standard bulb, will see how it goes.

AdrianR

[bigburd]

Sods law - talk about lights and tonight have lost a number plate light, and a tail light. Although today I had a new battery fitted, wonder if this has chucked a few extra volts through the circuit.

[JuniorD]

Re tail light bulbs - are you using OEM replacement bulbs from VW? Sometimes generic replacement bulbs don't have the little prongs at quite the correct places on the metal part and so they don't fully engage with the connection points in the cluster.

[Ranger 6]

I found using genuine VW ones extended life dramatically.

[bigburd]

I was using VAG OEM parts for the front sidelights and the first tail-light failure but have switched to Halfrauds part for the second tail-light. Watch this space

[AdrianR]

With the LED bulb in there I can see it is actually flickering while the engine is running which would explain why it eats the ordinary ones. Just that bulb as far as I can see so will have to reinvestigate the holder and wiring.

AdrianR

[AdrianR]

The LED was flickering as it is now duff so whatever is wrong has zapped that as well.

I put a multimeter on the holder, got 12v with engine off but over 14v with engine running. Same check on fog light gave a max of 13v. So, new theory is that there is too much juice going to this bulb which is causing the burnouts.

But why, and why just that bulb? Anyone know whether the Haynes manual has a decent wiring diagram in it?

AdrianR

[bigburd]

Might be worth getting someone to hook your car up to the diags computer, I see you are Bucks/Oxon - give ed @ www.AutoPS.co.uk a shout if you are passing that area.