LED tail light replacement

**Lyons** · 18-12-2015,11:02 AM

The bulb warning has come on in our A6 saloon. It's the offside light on the boot. Mrs Lyons has said that its come on and gone off again a couple of times recently, which would suggest it's a bad connection somewhere. I intend to give the connector a bit of a clean over the weekend, but out of curiosity what happens if the bulb is gone? I thought they shouldn't really go too often? Can it even be replaced or is a new unit required?

Thanks

**St3veM** · 18-12-2015,11:15 AM

So I had an intermittent fault ok my previous A6; as it was the inner led cluster I just asked them to swap it; it went away but returned and seemed to be when the car had been washed or we had heavy rainfall. Might be worth checking the connector as on the most recent occurrence the side lights were lit but very dim; I did see somewhere else there was concern about a short circuit and some charring within the connector - I never saw mine so can't say for definite.

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**johnsimcox** · 18-12-2015,02:05 PM

Had a similar issue, albeit with the non-LED unit. Seems to be an issue with the rear lights on the C7. On the LED unit if it is the whole unit that has stopped working then it would suggest a connection issue rather than a single LED going bad

**MarkTM** · 18-12-2015,02:23 PM

Check that it has actually failed by standing behind the car...sometimes it's just a resistance issue.

I got the it intermittently on my C6 (LED rears) but they were all working fine. I put my battery on a long trickle charge (whilst in situ) and now fully charged no issues.

**St3veM** · 18-12-2015,06:05 PM

This was mine 2nd time around. First was a total failure, 2nd was intermittent as per this pic.

HTH

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**Lyons** · 19-12-2015,09:17 PM

It's been working since I posted the thread. Will keep an eye on it, but I imagine the Audi warranty should cover it because the bulb isn't actually gone.

**Lyons** · 19-01-2016,11:58 AM

So, since posting this thread the tail light has been working but the indicator is on the blink, so to speak. When I indicate right I get the bulb warning and looking at the rear of the car the indicator in the same unit isn't working now. I removed the unit from the boot and there was quite a bit of moisture in behind within the opening. I'm not sure how it has got in, but I suspect via the seal around the light? There is a fair build up of moisture in the light unit too.

I put it on the radiator for a couple of ours and it dried out a bit, and I re-fitted it and it worked for a while but the same thing happened a few days later.

I notice the near side light is starting to get damp inside too.

If I replace the units, I'm wondering will the same thing happen again though? I cant see Audi covering this as its moisture related. I had a similar problem with the Bose amp in my TT a few years back and they said no due to water ingress, even though it was due to a poor design!

**Scott K** · 19-01-2016,02:45 PM

If it is under warranty take it to the dealer. My wife's A4 had condensation in it and they changed FOC-we didn't even notice it. You could have long term problems if it isn't addressed now. Check the spare wheel well and either side behind the lights too as the water may have got past.

**Lyons** · 21-01-2016,04:38 PM

It's an approved used warranty though, so it doesn't cover as much as the originally warranty (which I hadn't realised). The car is going in next Friday but I'm not hopeful to be honest!

I appreciate all the help, will update with the verdict.

**johnsimcox** · 21-01-2016,05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Lyons

It's an approved used warranty though, so it doesn't cover as much as the originally warranty (which I hadn't realised). The car is going in next Friday but I'm not hopeful to be honest!

I appreciate all the help, will update with the verdict.

When dd you get the car? If it is less than 6 months ago then Sale of Goods should help you as any fault in a car that materialises within 6 months is deemed to have been there at the time of sale and thus the dealers responsibility regardless of what the warranty may say is covered or not.