Quick question - MK2 Golf tailgate / numberplate lamp probs

[mulletmark]

help please!

Took the MK2 for MOT yesterday, no advisories (woop!) but failed on the two lamps which light up the numberplate light (didn't even know that was an MOT failure!)

... bulbs are okay, so before I start pulling things apart I thought I'd ask on here if anyone's come across this before and if it's a common fault / easy fix.

Any help appreciated, I don't mind getting my hands dirty but I hate electrical problems.

One love.

[Dr G]

If you open the tailgate there are two rubber boots that go between the back of the roof and the top of the tailgate. The one on the left hand side as you're facing the car has a habit of snagging and over time shearing the wires inside.

Take it apart, solder, put back together, Robert's your father's brother

[mulletmark]

Nice one!

Cheers Dr. G - now let's guess what my Saturday morning is going to involve.

[mulletmark]

Hey Dr. G

Just another quick thankyou. Pulled back the N/S boot and found that one of the wires had been trapped, now soldered back up again - I now have numberplate lamps.

Any idea how much of a challange it would be to replace that part of the loom - I'm not the best at soldering and don't hold out much hope for this fix keeping things together for too long.

[Tino]

IIRC the loom goes from the inner tailgate(through a really narrow channel, very difficult to get through)down into the car through another difficult channel into the OSR wing. Not 100% sure if it joins up there, or goes to the front. Basically, its much easuier to resolder and repair the wires than to replace this component. You'll be gutted if you go through all of that work, and the new loom fails in a couple of years.

[Dr G]

It's down the NSr rather than OSR but it does connect (2 connectors and an earth). It's a complete bd to get out and virtually impossible to get back!

As above, a good repair will see you fine Soldered mine up and had a go with heat shrink about 2 years ago, been fine since.

[Tino]

My brain said NSR, but for some reason I typed OSR. I do work in the motor trade, Honest!!

[Dr G]

I'm notorious for saying 'blue' when in fact I mean 'white' and confusing the hell out of people

Which particular bit of the trade do you reside in?