How To: Replacing a Tail Light Bulb
March 11, 2006 – 5:41 pm by Dan Volkens
Filed under Featured, How-Tos
Replacing a burnt out tail light bulb is very straightforward and simple. The hard part is knowing when one has burned out! Make a regular habit to check all of the exterior lights on your car and you’ll catch those dead bulbs as soon as possible. It just might help you avoid a frendly ($$) reminder from your local authorities. ;)
Step 1 of 4
Today, we will be replacing the tail light bulb on the driver’s side. Open up your hatch/trunk. On the left side of the trunk, you will find a small door that hides the Monsoon amp (if installed). Turn the two clamps (circled in red) on the door to open it:
Step 2 of 4
With the door open, you now have access to the tray that holds all of the tail light bulbs. There are two tabs on each side of the tray that secure it to the tail light. Carefully reach inside of the tail light and lightly squeeze on the outside of each tab, releasing the tray from the tail light.
Step 3 of 4
The bulb that we are replacing is circled in red in the photo below. To remove it, first rotate it counterclockwise to release it from the tray. Then carefully remove that lil’ bugger. Notice the burntage circled in the dead bulb closeup.
Step 4 of 4
To insert the new bulb, simply reverse the previous steps. For your reference, the model number for this bulb is 5008 (or R10W) and make sure that it is single contact. Congratulations, you’re done! Now that was easy, wasn’t it?
How To: Replacing a Tail Light Bulb
March 11, 2006 – 5:41 pm by Dan Volkens
WOW, my I just say that this was probobly the easiest thing I could have done myself! Thanks to my friend at the Local AutoZone for helping me find my bulbs with ease. It literally took about a minute to replace this. Now I won’t get pulled over for having a tail light out! Thanks!
Hey Jamie, glad the guide came in handy for you. :]
Awesome instructions and pictures. Thanks for posting! Saved me a ton of time and money :c)
Hey Dax, great tips – thanks. Any idea how to replace a rear bulb on a 2004 Passat Wagon?
thx John
Hey John, what year is your Passat? I think there is a slight difference between the B5, B5.5, and the new B6 generations. B5 is ‘96-’99, B5.5 was that minor facelift that occured in ‘00 – ‘05. The B6 is the newest Passat available.
These instructions are great. Isn’t tinternet great! Where would you recommend me buying the replacement bulbs from? Is there anywhere online?
Hey Johnny, thanks. Glad they’re coming in handy. You can find these bulbs at most of your local autoparts shops, like Autozone, Advance Autoparts, Napa, etc. Those are the ones in my area at least. Yours may differ.
I haven’t looked into purchasing online, mainly because of having to pay shipping and the inconvenience of waiting for it to arrive versus hopping over to my local shop and picking them up.
Be double sure that you pick up the correct bulb format/size for your application.
Thanks for the great blog post – been looking all over for this. Nice one. Nice motor too!
Ahhhh…..YES!!!!!! No longer dependent on the time-stealing money stripping condescending dealer………I Googled “replacing a bulb on a 2004 GTI” and I get a detailed description COMPLETE WITH PHOTO INSTRUCTIONS…….yesssssssssssss…. HURRAY!!!
I already have the bulb in hand and am ready to run off to the auto store for replacement! No apt. necessary! I’m proud of myself….saved time and money and am TOTALLY grateful to you for providing the SUPER DUPER info.! Thanks….(call ahead to make sure they carry the bulb!)
I have a 2003 Passat sadan and I need to replace the break light bulb on the driver’s side. These is an emergency storage area that is in the way to change the break lights. Any suggestions?
Hmm, not sure Steven. Is that emergency kit removable in any way, like by unscrewing etc.?
Dax,
Your instructions are very well documented and great photos. I have a 2004 Jetta with a burnt out reverse light, is they installation similar to the GTI you described?
Thanks
-Ed
Hey Ed, thanks. Yes, that bulb should be found on the bulb tray as well, so installation should be just about the same, though I don’t have my factory manual handy at the moment so I can’t tell you which exact bulb it is. Sorry! :] Let me know how it goes.
Hi Dax,
My ‘03 Jetta TDI Wagon needs a new tail light/brake light on the driver’s side. Any tips on removing the plastic CD changer slot that happens to be totally in the way of accessing the light panel on that side? It would make life sooo much easier with that out of the way since I don’t use it anyhow.
Thanks so much for this info.
Leslie
Hey Leslie, you should be able to remove the changer slot temporarily while you make the bulb change. There will be five 10mm bolts that hold the changer slot to the body of the car.
One major word of caution: when bolting the changer slot back on, be VERY careful of how much you tighten each bolt. If you tighten one too far, it can push against the body panel and create an outward dent on the outside of the panel which is pretty difficult to fix.
I hope that gives you some direction! :]
I just tried to do this with my 2002 Passat Wagon .. it is the driver’s side bulb. I found a couple of tabs similar to the tray tabs. The one next to tailgate seemed to move a fraction of an inch, but the one on the outer side did not move at all. Has anyone got a how to guide to replace a tail light on the Passat Wagon .. I am somewhat desperate, but long way from friendly expensive dealer since the Berkeley one closed a few months ago.
Hi Roger, I’m sorry I don’t have any experience with the Passat Wagon taillights. They do differ a bit in design, so it’s very possible that the bulb tray removal is slightly different. Have you found anything else out since your post?
I am trying to replace a headlight bulb in a 2003 passat,but i just cant seem to get the old bulb out
Any suggestions
Hey Dermot, have you gotten to the point where you have removed the plastic cover from off the back of the headlight? If so, you will need to reach in there, turn the bulb so that it unlocks from its position, and then simply remove the bulb.
Now, a couple things may come into play that differ from my GTI headlights. First, do you have the HID Xenon headlights? If so, the removal process may be different. Also, Passat headlights in general may be slightly different in bulb removal versus the GTI, but I would assume all is the same basic principle.
Let me know where you are in the process, and I might be able to offer more insight. :]
This is great information! Thank you!
If the tail light on the passenger side needs to be replaced, is it the same instructions?
Hi Amy, yep, it should be virtually identical. You won’t have to worry about the stereo amp on that side. Apart from that, it should work out just about the same.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Hi. I own a 2003 VW 1.8t wolfsburg and i dont know how to replace the front headlight bulbs. supposedly i need to remove the battery?! HELP this is out of my comfort zone (so is 50$ at the dealer)
Hi Rick, if you are in need of removing the battery to replace the headlight, I assume it’s your front driver’s side light. If you’re lucky and have small hands, you can pull the swap off without removing the battery.
The reason it’s recommended to remove is only because of the minimal space provided between the battery and the headlight housing. Before removing the entire battery, I would first try to remove the plastic battery cover. This’ll free up a bit of space for you to pull out the old bulb and replace the new. But be prepared for some scraped knuckles in the process. :)
Do you know the rest of the process to replace a front headlight beyond the battery removal? It includes removing a plastic cover from the back of the headlight housing, unplugging the burnt headlight, then reaching inside to VERY carefully remove the bulb. To remove the bulb, you turn it (I can’t remember clockwise or counterclockwise, sorry) just a little bit, like a quarter-turn, and it will unlock from the housing. To insert the new bulb, just reverse the process.
But remember, it’s a very tight fit. The passenger side is a cakewalk compared to the driver’s side. And it always seems to be that one that burns out. lol
I’ll have to get around to a How-To for the fronts as well.
I found your site VERY helpful. My tail light was out on the left side. I did have an authority politely tell me late one night. I went in and took out the lights and found 1 bulb missing on BOTH sides. A lower bulb on the exterior of the left and right side. I was confused why. So I bought what I thought would replace that bulb. Well it cause both the new tail light bulb and the old right side bulb to go out.
There was a recall or repair that was due to the hazard lights causing one or more of the rear lights to go out. Is that interconnected to this problem? What purpose does that missing bulb serve?
Have you heard of this issue before? If so what can I do- well other then remove the ‘unnecassry’ bulb.
Please reply to my email if you can. THANKS again for a great site.
LIZ
Hi Liz, I’m glad that Volksbloggin has been helpful to ya! That extra bulb socket in the rear bulb trays, I believe, is the rear fog lights which are only used from the factory in Eruope. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. (Just slap me on the head, haha)
So you do not need to use those sockets. Did you replace the bulb that was out? I would also go ahead and schedule an appointment with your dealer to have the brake light problem checked out as well.
I have a burned out brake light on the passenger side of an 02 Jetta 1.8Ltr. Does that panel in back of the light just pry away for access? Looked like it was glued on. Or is it secured in another fashion? Thought I’d check before I start ripping.
Hi Rush, there should be a tab on each side of the tray (See the first pic in step 2) that when squeezed inwards should release the tray from the tail light housing. Do you have those on yours?
No tabs to be seen. At least not on the access point in the trunk liner. I tried gently pulling on it and can see some flexible adhesive underneath. Figured I check here before yankin and destroying some sneaky spring clips.
Very strange.
Thanks in advance of your reply.
Yeah, that’s very weird. Now, I haven’t taken a gander at the passenger side on mine, but I would assume they’re constructed the same. Could it be that the tabs were broken off at one time, and now it’s just glued in?
I’m still talking about the access cover in the trunk. I haven’t made it to any wires yet. Not likely a repair job botched, since I’ve had the Jetta since new purchased at the dealer. I’ll run my hand around the access cover again, but didn’t feel any indentations or irregularities. I hope I don’t have to pull out the trunk liner…..ugh!
Mystery solved. Velco strips hold the access door shut. You really have to yank hard to make it open.
Thanks for the insite!
Rush out
Interesting. I’m glad you got it figured out now. :) I’ll have to add some notes to the post.
Thanks for the great tips. Also thanks to Liz’s post about the missing bulb, I thought that I knocked one loose when I was removing the bulb tray. The only problem I ran into was NAPA giving me the wrong bulb, but kinda my own fault since I didn’t take the old one in with me.
Thanks for the great posts.
Hi Dax… I own a 2004 Jetta and need help changing the driver’s side headlight bulb. From all the great tips I’ve been reading you’d be the one to ask for help. Thnx… Manuel
Hey Manuel, changing the headlight bulbs is relatively easy as well. Unfortunately, the driver’s side is the more difficult of the two!
The first thing you’ll ned to do is remove the battery cover (and battery if you have very large hands, there’s hardly any room to perform this operation).
Next, you will remove a plastic cover off of the back of the headlight assembly. There is a metal clip holding it on that you have to slide off of the cover to remove it.
Once the cover is removed, you now have access to the bulbs inside of the assembly. Reach inside, unplug the appropriate bulb wiring, then twist the bulb in its socket (I’m sorry, I forget at the moment which direction, but it should move easily) and carefully remove the burnt out bulb.
To replace the bulb, just reverse the steps above. Be SURE not to touch the bulb part of the new bulb. Oils from your skin can shorten the bulb life drastically.
I’m going to be writing up a headlight bulb change how-to very soon to provide further detail and photos. I hope that helps a bit!
You’re the man… Thank you much! You ‘re right it was pretty easy to change. Thnx again.
Hi Dax: Thanks so very much for your generous posts! Let me throw my hat in the ring for a write up on changing headlights to an 03 Jetta TDI. Can I/we donate to you via paypal to help encourage your work? ;-)
Also, if you’ve any insight on why both headlights went out at the same time, that would be great. I thought it was the fuse, changed it, and nothing. My high beams work fine, and interior lights are fine. Could it be that one went out before the other and I didn’t notice?
Again, thank you, thank you for your time. My favorite mechanic is 3000 miles away in Rhode Island, and I’m in Oakland, California, land of expensive Audi/VW mechanics!
Hahah rock on Alena, thank you so much. We’re just owners like you guys, trying to help out where we can. Actually, you could donate if you’d like to. :D There is a “Make a Donation” button on the right-hand side of the site on these pages, and on the left-hand side on the homepage. And Mrad and I have been kicking around the idea of reader-submitted posts. We may have that rolling after we redesign in the coming months.
That’s really strange for both headlights to burn out at the same time. Pending no serious electrical problem (which unfortunately is very common on these buggers) it could have just been chance, or like you said, maybe you didn’t notice one of them at first.
Hi,
Can you tell me, with pictures if possible, how to change the brake lights on a passat 2002?!
It seems as though I have to remove the whole inside panel. Please help..I don’t want to spend $200 bucks at a Oakland dealership.
Hey L.M., is your Passat the wagon variety or the sedan? I will try to find a good writeup for ya for whichever it is, since we haven’t done a Passat change ourselves yet.
thanks so much for posting this! i have a jetta, and this was SSOOOOO helpful!
Hi,
I need to change both the brake light and tail light on my 2003 Jetta. The diagram above looks pretty much identical to my Jetta, but can you tell me which bulb is the brake light? I think its the top one, but want to be sure.
Thanks!
Abby
Hey Abby, the brake light bulb is the small one, which is the third bulb from the top of the bulb tray. You can see a photo of it in the first photo under Step 3 above.
Thank you so much for this! I have GTI ‘03 and need to change the brake lights but hate going to the garage where I feel like I get fleeced particularly for being female!
You’re a star. :)
hey Dax, im VERY inexperienced when it comes to physically dealing with cars. I dont know anything…. I asked about the 2003 Jetta 1.8T earlier about the headlights…have you did the how to section yet? are there any pictures you can assist me with? that would help much better than instructions since i’m a newbie at this stuff…thanks!
Hey Rick, we’ve got your taken care of. :) Just yesterday, Mrad posted his how-to on changing out a passenger side headlight. You can find it here, or just go to the Volksbloggin.com homepage and it’s our feature post right now. I hope that new how-to helps you out!
Hi Dax, I just changed headlights in my 03 Jetta TDI, and I don’t know if it’s posted anywhere, but these headlight bulbs do not twist out of their sockets….they plug straight into the plastic enclosure. There is a twist locking ring (a seperate part) that locks the bulb in place. You remove this twist locking ring by turning it about 30 degrees, and the bulb pulls straight out. I don’t know if the Jetta is different from some of the other models you’ve been talking about where the bulb itself twists to unlock it for removal, but that may be why someone in an earlier post was having trouble removing his bulb….just a thought. The replacement was a pain (as is typical) on the driver’s side, and it was made more difficult by one of the wire clips for the back plate coming unhooked at it’s bottom end where you can’t see it, forcing you to work by braille. It’s always something.
If folks have never done these headlights before, I’d recommend changing the passenger side first so you can get familiar with the assembly before tackling the driver’s side.
Thanks for all the information on the website.
Hey Steve, thank you so much for the further detail, and the correction! We’ll have to do much more in-depth research for all the other model types and do write-ups for each since these are so popular. And also to make sure that all the information is correct. ;]
Gee, I’m just happy I had something to contribute. We all learn from forums like this one. No matter what your problem is, chances are good that somebody else has already “been there-done that”.
Thanks again!
I found your site last week while trying to figure out how to replace a breaklight bulb in my 2002 Passat Wagon, one of the things you said you had no experience with. You did provide enough information, however, that got me on track. The key difference, it seems, between the Wagon light assembly cover and the others is that in addition to having to undo the two left and right clips, you also have to remove the gray plastic cover to the amber turn indicator, which is located on the upper outside corner of the assembly. Visually it appears to be unrelated to the large, black, main cover, but I was unable to remove the cover without first twisting out the aforementioned turn indicator.
In truth, by local garage mechanic helped me figure out this last bit to the puzzle, and even replaced the bulb for me, all at no cost.
Thanks again though, for some really good information.
Awesome John, thanks for that added detail! I’m glad everything worked out.
I have a 2003 Passat W8 with the factory HID Xenon headlights. The right-hand side has gone dead, and I want to replace it. I’ve located a replacement bulb, but after poking around under the hood for half an hour I can’t figure how to remove the old bulb. There’s just no room to get near it, let alone remove the weather seal from the rear. Any ideas? Anyone ever replaced a VW Xenon headlamp?
Thanks Dax! Love the pictorial instructions. Though for my 2001 Jetta, it was more difficult to get the bulb tray out from the driver side than the passenger side. The hard felt cover blocks the released tray from coming out.. ugh. After 20 mins struggling with 4 hands, my dad & I managed to pull the tray out while pushing the top felt upwards. We then replaced the brake light bulb (top one, part#P21W). $2/ea at Lordco or $5/pair at Canadian Tire.
Hey Warren, can you tell what is in the way of the headlight assembly? Is it the windshield washer fluid Reservoir? You may need to remove whatever is in the way in order to get to the headlight unfortunately.
How helpful! 2002 Passat brake light replacement was easy after reading your stuff. Found the four tabs and, though maneuvering the tray out was a little tricky, it worked!
Thanks for the great description!! I’m sure I’ll be able to do a bulb replacement….unfortunately, I need to replace the entire assembly…cover is busted on driver side tail light assembly of my 2002 passat wagon…looks like th emonsoon amp is in the way of the 4th screw…I’ve removed all the screws I can find holding in the monsoon amp, and it’s loose, but I can’t figure out how to get it out of the way so I can access that last screw holding the the tail light assembly. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks!
Hey Liz, I’m not sure why the amp bracket isn’t coming off for you. Check out this tail light removal how-to over at VWVortex.com and see if maybe it will shed some light on the removal! :]
Woo hoo! Just replaced my 2001 Passat wagon driver side rear brake light bulb. It’s easy, even with a disk changer. The space is a bit cramped so you may need a small set of hands to get to it. The bulb tray is accessable enough without removing anything. After you remove the panel in the back where the disk changer is located, look for a black plastic panel with wires coming out of it where the tailight is. Simply pinch the plastic clips together and it comes out. The bulbs are right there. There is just enough room to push the bulbs down and twist them out and back in. The bulbs look the same as the ones in the photos. When you go to the autostore, be sure to tell them whether you need a turn signal light or brake light, and give them the model and make of your car. The lights all have different prongs to hold them in so you can’t use the wrong ones. Saved myself 90 bucks today. Thanks for the start on the instructions, it gave me some idea of where to start looking. The instruction manual simply said to take it to the dealership.
Rock on Susan! Glad we got you started, and thanks for the further detail for Passat wagon owners. :]
I learned so much this morning reading your instructions and I’ve printed out several for future reference. What I have been looking for are instructions for changing the front passenger turn signal. I was in a fender bender and there is damage in that location. My side signal and rear signal work, but my front signal is out and the turn signal sound is very fast, which someone told me means the bulb is dead or broken. How can I get to it? Do you reach the bulb going under the hood, or is there a way to pop the yellow casing from the outside? Any suggestion would be appreciated since I don’t know how long it is going to take to get the insurance company of the other party to come through and pay for repairs. Thanks
Hi Laura, I’m glad to hear our how-tos are helping. :D Which turn signal bulb are you referring to? Also, what model is your car? Jettas and Golfs/GTIs have three different turn signals. One on the side of the bumper, one on the fender, and one built into the headlight assembly.
If it’s either the bumper or fender bulbs, to remove them push in on, I believe, the front side of the bulb assembly. This will cause the opposite end to stick out from the bumper/fender. Then you can slide the entire assembly out of the bumper/assembly and remove the bad bulb.
If it’s the turn signal in the headlight assembly, you can follow Mrad’s instructions for the headlight bulb change. Once you have the back of the headlight assembly open, simply change out the turn signal bulb rather than the headlight bulb.
Let me know if that helps!
Thanks for your quick response. My car is actually a 2003 Passat 4 Mo Wagon. I’ll try your instructions and let you know how I make out. Thanks again.
dax, pleeeeease post a how-to on changing the batteries in the remote access key….this thing is some kind of mayan puzzle trap
Hey Mr. Burns, that would be a good one to post up. I did find this one on VWVortex.com that should help you out. It looks like the images aren’t loading on the first page, but there are pics on the second page.
Dax
I need to replace the brake light, drivers side, on a 03 Passat Saloon V6.
It looks to me as thought the carpet covers the housing. Am I sadly mistaken or is there another way of getting to the light bulb housing??
Hi Dave, try to GENTLY pull away the carpet from the body panel just a little bit to see if it’s glued down to the panel, or if it gives more easily as if it was velcroed or some other method of removal.
I found a how-to on a sedan. This might help give you some more insight into the process. Let me know if it helps!
Your instructions have been a tremendous help. Thank you so much!!!
I am agonizing over why my Brake Lights (2001 Jetta TDI) frequently are out. Today I noticed that the rear brake lights are out as well as both indicators. Is it the way I place the housing after I change the bulbs that causes them to come loose? It would be nice to have a picture to let me know exactly which bulb is which once I pull the panel out of the trunk, either side.
Thanks for making life a little more affordable for us VW owners.
Warren, I have a 2002 W8, same problem, dealer wants $360 (200 bulb 160 labor) starting with ‘remove front bumper….’ so its (ahem intentionally) WAY more complicated than it ever was before, I cant find anything online on how to either but it sounds like we will need to take off half of the front the car
not the fluid res. the problem (for the rest of ya) is that the HID bulb in the W8 is set under the fender, its not even under the hood at all, so getting at it from the engine compartment is as Warren has found, impossible.
anyone with a how to would be greatly appreciated – really tired of getting pulled over and cant drop $400 bucks on a headlight til she’s paid off!
The left front turn signal bulb in my 2003 W8 burned out last evening and needs to be replaced. Like Dave, I am dreading what is to follow, including having to make an appointment with NYC area VW Service department (at least a 7 to 10 day wait) losing the vehicle for at least a day if not two, and then having to spend a relative fortune on a minor bulb replacement that one could easily accomplish in 5 minutes in most other cars.
BTW: The “Certified Pre Owned Warranty” that I purchased when I bought the car off (my) lease seems only to cover parts that do not break. Does anyone know where I can find a list of parts/components that are excluded under the CPO Warranty? VW has not been forthcoming with an answer thus far.
Hi Jeff,
I came across a PDF of a how-to on changing a bulb on your model Passat, if it’s not HID headlights:
http://home.comcast.net/~slashpub/headlights/ReplacingHeadlightBulbs.pdf
It’s taken seven years for me to finally find the ‘wow’ factor of the Web. Thanks step-by-step on replacing the tail light on the Jetta. Talk about 21th century! Especially after the owner’s manual gave no instruction other than to NOT attempt the replacement, yours is a site (ahem) for soar eyes.
Of course, the companion explanation on the headlights was even better.
Keep up the good work!
Hahah thanks Timmer. :]
This site looks really helpful, so I am cossing my fingers :)
I have a 2003 Golf and I noticed BOTH of my tail lights are out. My local Auto Store does not have any replacement bulbs and they are not planning on getting any more of the Sylvania 5008’s in :( I really don’t know what to do regarding that, but anyway,
Since both tail lights are out, do you think this could be fuse related?
If so, do you have any idea which fuse is the tail light? The symbols on the fuse diagram confuse me…
Any feedback is really appreciated!
Well, after deciding to mess with my tail lights one more time one of them they has miraculaously healed itself.
I pulled it out and put it back in and I’ll be darned if it lit up. The other one is definatley burnt out through.
On a side note, there proably is some kind of crazy electrical problem going on b/c yesterday, I also could not close my sun roof, and now it is working….so, if anyone knows what the problem may be, or has a explanation to the fuse diagram symbols I again would be extremely grateful :)
Hmm, upon you having other electrical problems like the sunroof Jennifer, I would take it in and have the computer codes scanned at least. You can do this at any of your local auto parts shops for free, or take it to your favorite dealer.
At first, I was going to suggest that both of your taillights happened to burn out around the same time, but if you’re have other problems unfortunately it doesn’t sound like that’s it.
Hey thanks Dax, I really appreciate your help!
My girlfriend has a 2004 VW Jetta, Here tail light is out on the driver side. I’ve been looking all over the place to find the bulb size and how to take the light out to change the bulb. Do you know the bulb size and is it similiar to just pulling the carpet back?
Hey Eric, if it’s the regular running taillight and not the brake light, it will be the same bulb as in the how-to here, which is the R10W or 5008, and replacing it should be just about the same as on my GTI. Let us know how it goes or if you have problems!
Thanks so much for saving me $. It took me more time to read your directions than it did to change the bulb. BTW, mine is a 2001 Jetta Wagon, and it was the right tailight, but basically your directions easily translated. For the 2001 Jetta Wagon, though, the bulb is supposed to have two contacts (you can easily look up in your local auto parts store. Mine was a Kragen). Keep up the great job, Volksbloggers
Right on Jen. Glad we could help, and thanks for the extra tips on the wagon taillight!
hi there! i’ve been reading through the postings and i have not seen one about the 2007 Rabbit…unless i missed it. my passenger side turn signal is out – i opened the velcro thing in the trunk and then there are these bolts. i can’t find the tool to take the bolts off..does the car come with one? or should i buy one and if so what size? i saw something about 10mm for passat. thanks! my light has been out for 2 weeks and i insist on fixing it myself.
Hey Gretchen, I was trying to find a how-to for your taillights, and was coming up empty as well. I would suggest you head over to VWVortex.com and check out their forum for the MkV Golf and Jetta. Someone in there should be able to point you in the right direction. And sometime soon we hope to have a lot more ho-tos going up on Volksbloggin, including for the newest models!
My rear bulb on the drivers side is out and after changing the bulb and checking the fuses, it’s still out!! Is it likely to be the tray itself at fault?
Any help much appreciated.
Sorry, meant to say it’s a MkIII 3 door 1.6cl. Thanks again
1996 P reg!! Got there in the end eh…..
Hey Gino, if you’ve swapped in a new bulb, checked the fuses and all is well, it does sound like some kind of wiring problem. Those are the worst too. Could be a problem with the socket on the tray, which is prolly easier to fix than trying to track down a wire problem.
Hey Dax,
I just got a message on my dash saying that I’ve got a defective bulb in my 2006 Jetta. Apparently it’s one of my tail lights on my passenger side. It’s the bulb that lights up CLOSEST to the trunk.
Any help?
Thanks!
Nevermind … figured it out!!! :)
Awesome! I was just going to say that there should be instructions in your manual for the change, but also for further help ,you might find something over at VWVortex.com Forums as well.
Anywho, glad you got it fixed! :]
My 2000 TDI Jetta rear driver light is out. Is it the same setup to remove that bulb? Does anyone know the part number of the bulb I need. Cheers
Hi Chris, it will work out the same way to replace that light. As a matter of fact, I just did mine as well recently. The bulb you want to purchase though seems to be slightly different according to this list. Scroll down and you’ll see the model numbers for the Jetta/Bora taillight.
Dax,
A few of the LED lights on the center rear tail light were ‘out’. When I tried to access the light fixture, I noticed that all the lights showed up if I just jiggled the power plug. Then when I shut the trunk, all the lights went out and won’t come back on.
I can’t seem to find a detailed enough DIY to access the center tail light fixture. Do you know of any?
Hey Barry, assuming you have a Jetta, here’s a how-to with photos on accessing the 3rd brake light.
Dax,
Thanks very much, I searched but couldn’t find anything on those forums. One last question, if the light strip is FUBAR, can you recommend a place to find a replacement either new, used, or aftermarket.
Yeah, I was looking too and I couldn’t come across anything else. What model do you have? And as for parts websites, I would head over to either WorldImpex.com or 1stVWParts.com. I hope that helps! :]
Dax,
I had the european light switch put in my jetta, so, could I put bulbs into those empty spots in the tail light assembly and not “blow anything up”? I’m just wondering what my tail lights would like if there was something there…
Hey Rob, the euro switch gets you part of the way there to what is called the “five brake light” mod, which makes use of that empty socket. You can see a DIY about it here. Though it’s a pretty involved mod, if you’re handy you can pull it off!
thanks for posting, i’ll give it a try. much appreciated!
2002 Passat Wagon rear turn signal problem – I had my Passat in for inspection a few days ago, they replaced the driver’s side rear brake bulb, but didn’t put things back together right and now the turn signal doesn’t work. I’ve removed the gray twist out housing, but I can’t get it to reseat properly. I looked at the passenger side for a clearer example, and that was trivial to remove and replace, but I can’t get it to work on the driver side. I’ve been trying to remove the brake light panel to get a better look, and I can find one quick release tab on the inboard side towards the mid-bottom of the panel, which loosens it – but the top is still held in somehow and I just can’t see or find another release tab.
Help? Does anyone have any ideas on either how to get the turn signal assembly to reseat properly, or how to pop out the taillight panel? I’m getting desperate, and both of my hands are now bruised, cut, and bloody from trying to reach in that tight space….
- Bill Holder
I am wondering if the way u change a tail light on a 2002 jetta is the same as changing one on any other jetta? thanks
Hey jbip, it would be the same in general for all Mk4 generation Jettas, meaning ‘99-’05. The new Jetta’s are prolly a little different given that the tail lights are a new design.
Hey Bill, sorry, your comment slipped past me. Before you do anything else I would take it back to where you got it inspected and have them take a look at it, since it seems like they broke something. they should be responsible if they didn’t reassemble the tail light correctly.
Thanks for a great post. We just bought a 2001 Passat Wagon(only 50k miles!) but it was having brake light issues. 2/4 were out. I decided to go ahead and replace all 4.
After doing this the bottom passenger side bulb stays bright, as though the brakes were always applied. The others behave normally. Any thoughts to what may be off?
If you can tell me where to send it to I will send you a picture of what the setup looks like in a Wagon. It is actually quite different from the ones you have here.
Thanks again Dax!
Also, a note for Bill Holder, if you haven’t fixed yours yet. When I replaced my four bulbs the driver’s side gave me fits, especially replacing the blinker bulb.
You shouldn’t have to remove the brake light panel to reseat the blinker bulb. Make sure that the contacts (two silver points on the grey stem attachment) line up with the contacts on the housing. Once I had it lined up fairly well I pushed (harder than I had been) to get everything to seat. I spent about 15 minutes just trying to get that one piece in place. Stay with it, or maybe have someone with tiny hands AND some strength give it a try.
Hey Brady, thanks for the extra detail and help for Bill and congrats on the Passat. Sounds like an awesome deal with mileage that low. :D If the brake light is sticking on, you might need to have the brake light switch recall performed at your dealer. You can send a pic to me at: dan[at]volksbloggin.com. ( [at] added to avoid spam harvesters, replace with @ symbol) Thanks!!
Oh, just after I posted this, I saw that the recall doesn’t seem to cover Passats. hmm, anyone else have thoughts why his light would stick on?
I have a 2003 Passat. When I turn on the headlights I get no running lights. For a while I could turn the light switch farther to the right to get the running lights to come on but this trick no longer works. I checked with the dealer for a new switch $160.00 ouch! Any ideas what else could possibly be wrong? I just replaced the front headlight on the drivers side.
Hey Curt, I looked up the headlight switch part on a couple sites that offer great deals on OEM parts, and it looks like your dealer is quoting correctly. At WorldImpex.com, you can purchase the switch for $149.72.
You could swing a much better deal and get the European version of the headlight switch at . They’re carrying the OEM Euro version for $49.99.
Replacing the switch yourself is relatively simple. Here’s a Quick DIY image on removing the old switch. Let us know if that helps!
very simple, but thanks for the tutorial. worked just as well on my 2001 Jetta GL
Over the weekend I tried reseating the bulb that was staying bright (see 1/10 post) and it resolved the problem. When I looked at it it seemed I may have had it in there a bit crooked.
I will send pictures later this week of the wagon lights.
Thanks Dax!
Right on, glad it works now Brady!
Some hints for replacing a brake light bulb for a 2006 Jetta 2.5L. The brake light is the outer circle on either side. There are flaps cut into the trunk lining, held down with Velcro. Open to reveal the bulb tray and tail light housing. Pull out the top (skinnier of the two) wire plugs. Then on the bulb tray, pull up the two tabs at the bottom of the bulb tray. These will release the bulb tray so you can pull it out to reveal the bulbs. To remove the burnt out bulb (and this where I had trouble which lead me to this site), push down on the bulb then turn it counterclockwise. To reinsert the bulb tray, the top has to go back in first, there are two prongs at the top that need to be fitted into white/gray slots at the top of the tail light housing. Get these lined up then push in the bottom of the tray. Note: I have the silver/white tail lights sold by VW opposed to the all red that are standard on the 2006 jetta but hopefully, the bulb tray is the same.
Thanks for the tips on the new Jettas ST!
Dax, I just replaced the headlight switch and the directions you gave were perfect. All my running lights (very helpful at night) are working again. Since the new switch was working I had to open up the old switch to see what cost so much. There are four tabs that have to be lifted in order to remove the rear housing. Once this is removed, the contacts are exposed for inspection. I found that one of the contacts was discolored and not making good contact. I cleaned the contact throughly, removing all signs of carbon build up. Because these contacts have a spring tension set, I had to bend the contact to clean it and, of course, bend it back until it made contact like all of the others (roughly 12). I reassembled the switch and reinstalled it in the car, the running lights work again. These switches can be repaired and don’t necessarily need to be replaced. This whole job took me 10 minutes to do!
Awesome Curt, I’m glad everything worked out. Good job on figuring that out how to go about just cleaning the contacts! That could save many peeps some money on replacing the switch.
I am trying to change the front turn signal on my 2002 Jetta. I removed the black cover held by the two metal brackets. I only see the headlight bulb. Where is the turn signal bulb? How do you replace it? Need help ASAP.
Hi Vicky, your question spurred me to write up a new How-To on replacing the turn signal bulb. You can find it on our homepage now, or at this link. I hope that helps you replace yours!
Thanks Dax,
I thought the turn signal was in the right small black Box. I pushed down on the black clip but the cover did not release. I was not sure if that would release the black cover for the turn signal without breaking it. I will give it another try. Thanks a lot.
Vicky
Hi Vicky, yep, it’s behind there. But be careful! As I noted in the how-to. I broke mine off. lol It shouldn’t take much effort, and you may have to work it a bit around wiring or other parts that might be in the way.
Thanks for the great tutorial and tips Dax. I have a 2004 Jetta Wagon and my driver-side brake light recently burnt-out. Unfortunately the access to the bulbs is really poor, but based on your pictures I was able to disengage the clips and with a little work, pull the old bulb and replace with a new one.
For what it’s worth, my VW manual comments on how hard it is to get access to the bulbs and recommends taking it to the shop to have them replaced. Glad I found your site, saved me both money and time!
Great Dustan! Isn’t it strange that they would actually mention how hard it is to replace it and recommend the dealer? Gee, thanks Volkswagen for looking out for us customers. hahahah
I have a 2001 jetta tdi and the drivers side tail light keeps burning out. A new one only lasts about 2-3 days. I am using the factory reccomended bulbs but I do not understand why this is happening. If anyone can halp it would be appreciated.
Hi Dave, definitely sounds like some kind of wiring problem, or something wrong in the bulb tray. Have you had your Jetta in for the Brake Light Switch Recall? That has caused the lights to either stay on constantly, or not come on at all. That is, if this is your brake light, and not the regular night-time running tail light.
I have a 2001 Jetta Wolfenstien – the right rear tail light is out. The bulb is good and the fuse is good any ideas?
Hey Wade, have you tried removing the bulb and reseating it? Could be loose or something like that. If that isn’t the case, your bulb tray could have gone bad or that socket is bad. Very very rare for that to happen though.
Dax – Great blog – thank you!
The dealer suggests that the door switch on my ‘05 Jetta TDi Wagon needs replacing. It appeeeaaars the door panel is three screws to remove, plus a couple of additional screws and a plug on the switch.
Can I save myself the $300 in labor to do this myself, or is there additional computer or programming that’s required once the new switch is in?
And is there any chance that the door switch is related to my window controls going spontaneously haywire?
Thanks, bud. =D
Thanks Dave! Hmmm, chances are it would be a relatively simple how-to, but I’m not sure on this one as far as reprogramming, etc. Let me consult our in-house tech guy, Tekmassa, and get back to you.
Hey Dave, which switch will you be replacing?
After removing the outer panel on my 2006 Jetta sedan, as shown in the diagram, there is simply an empty space space behind it. I ran my fingers along the material and do not see any further opening. How do I get at the brake light?
Hi rich, your 2006 jetta is probably different. It’s the newer model Jetta, correct? One of the other commenters posted some info on changing the bulb on those Jettas. Hopefully this will help!
=====
Some hints for replacing a brake light bulb for a 2006 Jetta 2.5L. The brake light is the outer circle on either side. There are flaps cut into the trunk lining, held down with Velcro. Open to reveal the bulb tray and tail light housing. Pull out the top (skinnier of the two) wire plugs. Then on the bulb tray, pull up the two tabs at the bottom of the bulb tray. These will release the bulb tray so you can pull it out to reveal the bulbs. To remove the burnt out bulb (and this where I had trouble which lead me to this site), push down on the bulb then turn it counterclockwise. To reinsert the bulb tray, the top has to go back in first, there are two prongs at the top that need to be fitted into white/gray slots at the top of the tail light housing. Get these lined up then push in the bottom of the tray. Note: I have the silver/white tail lights sold by VW opposed to the all red that are standard on the 2006 jetta but hopefully, the bulb tray is the same.
=====
Great instructions for a first-time light replacer like me. Instructions worked to perfection on my 2000 Golf (CD changer wasn’t in the way at all). Thanks!
Just wanted to write thanks from another happy reader. I just used this and Matt’s more recent how-to to fix both a taillight and a headlight. Cost a total of $16, just for a headlight bulb. It turned out the taillight wasn’t actually burned out, but had simply slipped out of its socket and was rattling around loose! I managed to fish it out through the panel hole with some needle-nose pliers. Worked fine after re-plugging. Even weirder, though, there was a *second* loose bulb in there that as far as I can tell isn’t used anywhere and must have been left accidentally by the factory. It’s the same size and the brake and turn lights, but has two filaments. Maybe one of those un-installed fog lamps? Doesn’t really matter though, I’ll just keep it as a souvenir of the $100 I just saved on labor. ;) Thanks again.
Great Ben, glad it helped!
Dax,
I have a problem with my 2001 Jetta 1.8. The reverse lights went out a while back, after I had the brake switch fixed b/c of the recall. I checked the bulbs and they are fine. I’m trying to locate the fuse to check it, but I can’t decipher the little symbols and the owner’s manual is now help.
Can you tell me what to look for or what to do?
Thanks,
Justin
Hey Justin, Here’s a link to the fuse diagram. Let me know if that helps!
Hello!
My boyfriend has a 96 golf with after market tail lights… which kind, i forgot. But the previous owner left all of the wires to the tail light a mess, so my boyfriend kind of made them more organized. Now, it worked great for a while until one night, the running lights didn’t come on. So he had to move some wires around so at least the right running light went on the left side. He checked the bulbs and changed them, but it still never worked. He also noticed that it looked like something melted where the bulb was… He of course made sure to get the correct bulbs for that specific light. So, if he drives at night, the only running light is on the right side. Thankfully, his brake lights turn on… But he’s been pulled over for it already.. (it sucked… and he just can’t figure it out)
Do you have any idea why the left tail light just won’t turn on? Maybe a melted fuse? Maybe he should just go back to the stock tail lights? I dont know- he’s hoping he doesn’t have to get it repaired at a shop of some sort… Thank you!
Hey mimi, melted wiring is always a bad sign unfortunately. Sounds like the previous owner didn’t have something wired correctly, or too much current was flowing through that wire. Regardless, sounds like that could be the culprit. I am by no means a automotive wiring guru, so I would suggest he try to track down the cause of that meltage and replace the necessary items, for safety’s sake alone. Don’t want the ol’ Golf burning to the ground. :)
2003 Passat GLS with the drivers side rear side running light out. Do you know how to change that? I can feel it from underneath the car, but not sure how to get it out. TX !!
Hey Jim, I searched as well and came up empty. I hope one of our readers can point you in the right direction. I suggest you also post your question in the B5 Passat Forums on VWVortex.com.
I figured it out. You have to push on the one side from the outside. Once it pops in, you then slide it back and it pops out. $1.97 later for bulb from Walmart and I was good to go ! Thanks for the response though !!
Right on, good job man. :) Glad you got it.
Hi,
I have a ‘96 Golf and I have the driver’s side turnsignal and the passenger side headlight out – both in front. The headlight bulb doesn’t seem to be too difficult to replace (at first sight). But I’m not sure where to look for the turn signal bulb. Can you help?
just wanted to thank you for the help. I had to replace a rear bulb on our 2006 Jetta and this was the only detailed HOW TO I could find.
Hey Dominique, I searched around as well and couldn’t find anything for ya. I suggest heading over to VWVortex’s MkIII Forum and posting your question there. They should be able to provide something for you.
No probs Ted, glad it helped.
hi dax,
I figured it out. It was just a matter of disconnecting the bulb socket and turning it – albeit, blindly since it was in a weird spot where I couldn’t see it. Perhaps I should check under the hood a bit more to prevent the “I wonder what I am touching now” feeling. ;) Thanks for your help!
Great Dominique! Glad you got it figured out.
03 passat wagon rear light changes… need to remove the signal light tab first before depressing tabs on light cluster, and removing. this stand alone signal light secures the cluster and the cluster will not come out until you take this light out first….
man I hope I don’t have to replace a front light on this thing… the battery on my 1.8 T is behind the engine up by the dash (looks like that’s going to be fun to remove if required as well : ]), and there is still a load of stuff to move before getting access to the headlights…
Thanks for the 03 Passat wagon tips dwdave!
Thank you! My 2006 Jetta is slightly different but I was able to figure it out from these pictures. Much appreciated… now I don’t have to ask anyone to do it for me!
Hey guys how can i replace both my headlight bulbs, 2004 Golf 4. Can i DIY without any headaches?
Hey Tebogo, here’s a link to our how-to on the headlights. Hope that helps! Be aware that the passenger side is a lot easier to do just because the space around the back of the headlight isn’t as tight as the driver’s side. On the driver’s side, we recommend removing the battery cover to allow just a bit more room.
OK so now that i know how to replace all the bulbs which is which, I’ve got a 2003 Jetta 1.8T sedan. i know the reverse lights, signal lights, brake lights, and running lights(or what ever the ones you can turn on and off at night are called) but what is the fourth one for?
Hey Andrew, that fourth light is most likely a rear fog that typically isn’t installed on U.S. spec VWs. Here’s a listing with photos of all the exterior lights on a Golf and Jetta.
Thanks! now i’ve got another question, the reverse lights don’t work but the bubs and fuses are good i’ve checked and replaced them already. My car has an aftermarket shifter installed and i’ve heard that if the installer didn’t connect a “reverse switch” the lights won’t come on, any idea as to where that is and what it looks like?
Hmm, not sure on that one. I suggest you check out the Forums over at http://www.VWVortex.com and see if someone can point you in the right direction there. :)
Seems I’m burning through tail lights like their going out of fasion. the tail light thats mounted inside the car behind the back seats has gone out, any tips on how to get it out?
Hi,
I had to replace a drivers side brake light on my 2003 Passat W8. It was a huge amount of work, even with your great info! Seems like there should be an easier way but I don’t know what. I had to:
Remove the trunk floor mat. Remove the door that covers the first aid kit/cd changer. (when this door is slightly open, it can be lifted up off the hinges) I found it not necessary to remove the cd changer itself.
Remove the two chrome tie-downs from inside the rear of the trunk. Unscrew the two plastic nuts from the hard plastic cover that fits across the rear of the trunk and carefully pry this cover off, taking care not to break or lose the 8 christmas tree clips.
Remove the plastic nut, big round christmas tree clip and several T8 screws from the left hand side trunk liner which can now be pulled away at the rear.
Whew! Now the light assembly is accessible, and the earlier posts can be used to change the bulbs.
Hey Andrew, that one, I think, is made up of LEDs, which don’t typically go out. It could be that the wiring harness is loose. Or if it is a single bulb, then it could be burned out. Either way, check out this DIY on removing the Jetta rear package shelf. There are some photos in there that might get you pointed in the right direction. Looks like you can access the wiring for the 3rd brake light from the trunk.
Thanks for the extra info John, and congrats on figuring it out. :D
Holy crap! This blog is AWESOME!!!!! I’ve had a 2003 Jetta for six have never stumbled into your site and I regret it, your wonderful! I had two tail lights go out about a month apart and your information made it so easy to fix, I love the pictures. My problem is that when I pulled the bulbs out only one of them was burned out. I checked the fuses and they were all fine so I’m not really sure what to do next. Any advise? If not I’m really appreciate the help you’ve already given me.
Hahahah glad we can help, Erin. :D My wife’s Jetta is having the exact same problem right now. It could be a matter of the bulb wiggling loose, breaking its contact with the socket. Try removing the bulb and reinserting to see if it lights up again.
I replaced the brake lights on driver side of 2005 passat TDI wagon. After I replaced the bulbs I had my wife turn on running lights, brake lights worked great (High Five) not quite. Now my directional singnal light does not work. Bulb is good but it acts like it burned out. I thought I may have roughed up the bulb housing trying to remove it. I removed the passenger side housing to try on driver side to isolate the problem, this did not work. I put the car back together. Now both directional singnals don’t work, fuses seem to be fine. My easy job turned out to be a hassel. I don’t want to take the car to a VW dealer to replace a light bulbs. Thanks, Tom
Hmm, strange one there, Tom. Were you sure to double check any wiring and connections to those bulbs to make sure nothing has been disconnected and/or broken? Let’s see if another reader might be able to point you in the right direction. Also, in the meantime, I suggest posting your problem to the VWVortex.com Lighting Forum as well.
I have a 2003 Jetta GL Wagon. Needless to say, she is not my favorite right now. I have a 2 part question.
I was wondering if the recall on the brake lights is still good. I have been in Europe for the last 14 months and just got to opening my Mound of what my mother noted as “non emergency mail.” UGH! Is it too late to get my brake light recall work done? If not, would the switch effect the high mount rear brake light “bar?”
Hey siera, the recall should still be available to you. Head over to a dealer to see if they’ll get it done for ya.
Replacing taillight bulbs in a 2005 Jetta Sedan: Yes, I was able to dislocate the carrier for the bulbs and it is loose but the top bulb will not come out through the opening no matter what. Is there some trick to this? Thanks
Hey Axxel, Try lightly twisting the bulb in its socket first, then it should release. There are two little nubs on the sides of the bulb that lock it into the socket. To reinstall, stick it in and turn to lock in.
Ah, I think you mean to physically get the bulb carrier out so you can get to the top bulb? Yeah, it’s a reallly, really tight fit. You just have to kinda work it out very carefully by pushing down a bit so it clears the taillight area without breaking any tabs off or anything like that on the bottom of the carrier. :]
Thanks for the instructions, worked out great.
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone knew how to replace a tail light on a 2007 Touareg? thanks!
The left rear tail light has gone on my VW Golf ‘02. I checked for burnage and there is no sign of it being severed. I replaced them and still its not working. Any suggestions?
Hey in1999, sorry for the extremely late reply. I don’t know of a how-to on that one, sorry. I suggest checking out the Touareg forums over at VWVortex.com.
That’s a strange one Vanessa. I hope that it isn’t the case, but it sounds like there may be a wiring problem. I don’t believe that a blown fuse would make only one light go out. If it were a fuse, I think all tail lights would go out. Unfortunately, sounds like a trip to a mechanic is in store. Does the bulb light if you wiggle it a bit while in the socket?
Hello. I have a broken tail light that I need to replace. I see that after removing the access panel there appears to be 2-3 bolts holding the light in place but one of them is a far reach behind a bulky metal section which appears to be part of the car frame. Can anyone tell me (pictures if possible) how I can replace the whole tail light? Thanks in advance!
Hey Chris, Here’s a how-to on removing the tail light on Jetta and Golf/GTIs. I hope that might get you the information you need!
i need some help here … i have a 2006 passat 2.0T and both rear lights are out … the brakes light are working … i’ve taken out the light housing but can’t figure out how to get into the bulbs .. thanks
Hey Marian, if both are out, your Passat could be a candidate for the brake light switch recall that is still out. If you can determine that the bulbs are not in fact burned out, then that is most definitely the problem you have. If so, you can take it in to get repaired for free.
As far as accessing the bulbs, I’m not completely sure on the new Passats, but there is usually some sort of access panel inside of the trunk that will allow you to pull out the tray holding the bulbs.
I need to replace a brake lightbut which of the three lights is it??
By the way I have a 2003 Jetta. Didnt know if that made a difference or not
Hey Britt, I believe the brake light is the first bulb from the top in the bulb tray. Here’s a list of all the bulbs on both MkIV Golfs/GTIs and Jettas.
Thanks Dan… I love this site by the way!!!
Did you remove the grey turn signal bulb housing before you removed the bulb assembly?
The grey fixture is designed to be twisted into place after the light assembly is snapped in. You may have to remove the light bulb holder, twist out the grey turn signal bulb housing, replace the bulb holder, then replace the grey turn signal holder. Confused?
You will find that the turn signal assembly has two small metal tabs that take place of a wire to the bulb. This has to be twisted into place for the contacts to work.
Sorry – my comment was a response to Tom, who lost their turn signal after changing the brake lights in a 2005.
Hey, it’s nice to see someone explain the simple things to help out. Easy to follow instructions for people. Well done.
Thank you for these instructions.
Before I start changing bulbs, I thought I would ask if you have any ideas on this: my wife’s 2000 Golf – all the running lights have failed….and one rear brake light. The front lights work when turned on, both low and high beams, but the running lights don’t work (Cdn model), when the lights are off. Both rear running lights also have failed, and one brake light doesn’t work.
Any thoughts/assistance would be appreciated.
Hey Al, that’s a strange one there. If you have already checked the bulbs themselves, the next couple things to look into would be fuses, then the lightswitch itself inside the car. Also, have you had the brake light switch recall completed? That could be causing some odd problems as well, albeit only with the rear.
I just purchased a 2003 volkswagen jetta 1.8t and the trunk light doesn’t come on when the trunk is open. Where is the light located in the trunk and what is involved in changing the bulb?
Hey Darryl, I haven’t done this replacement myself, but this thread on VWVortex.com is all I could find on it. It mentions that the light slides to the side and comes out of the housing. You should be able to access the bulb from there.
Hello: I just discovered that the front running light bulb is HANGING down on the wire from where it’s supposed to go. I have a 2001 Jetta. I would love to know how to get it back where it belongs. My head won’t fit under the car without it being on a life. Any suggestions? THANKS! Your website is so wonderful!
sorry Dan…I meant a ‘lift’…BYT it’s the left front running light that is hanging down by the wire. Is it possible to approach it from the outside, by taking the lens cover off? Thanks again.
Hey Betsy, thank you. We’re always glad to hear how it helps our readers. :) When you say that the bulb is hanging, is it hanging loose inside of the headlight assembly, or hanging out of the back of the headlight, inside of the engine bay? If it has somehow worked loose from it’s holder in the headlight assembly and is hanging in the engine bay, you can follow this how-to on changing the headlight bulb that Matt wrote to see if maybe that will give you some insight on fitting the bulb back into its holder.
Now if it’s broken somehow, I imagine you will probably need to have the headlight assembly replaced.
Thanks, Dan. Some more information for you. I am now told that it is the marker light and not the running light. It has an amber lens about 2×4, on the side of the front fender. Sorry. I can see the light bulb just hanging by the wire just beneath the front fender, in front of the left front tire wheel well. I can reach up inside there, but I can’t see anything. Do you think I should jack up the car and look around? I haven’t been able to find any info about how to fix it. Hope this helps.
Dan, do you think I should try removing the lens? I understand that it’s spring loaded. Thanks.
Ah, that does help. In this case, the way to remove the sidemarker assembly is to push in on the side closest to the door (I think. :P If it doesn’t go in, try the side closest to the front). This will angle the opposite side of the assembly out of the bumper, allowing you to then remove it by sliding it out of the bumper. I don’t recall exactly, but I think you would slide it out toward the front of the car. In any case, don’t force it. :D
Once the assembly is out, you should be able to mount the bulb properly inside of it. Hope that helps!
Yep, it is spring loaded or similar. Try what I mentioned above and see if you can get the bulb seated back into the assembly.
Thank you! I’ll go outside and try that. Hopefully I can reach up and reinstall the bulb where it goes. I haven’t wanted to drive it because I knew it would bounce around and perhaps break off.
Thank you for dealing with this on a Sunday…you are very thoughtful and kind!
No problem at all. :D I’m just sitting here watching some football while browsing guitars on eBay. lol Just glad I was here online to help you out right away!
Dan…Just wanted to follow-up…It was easy to remove the lens…and when I did I noticed that the plastic holder for the bulb had melted off! Which explains why the bulb was loose and hanging down. I was able to poke the bulb into the hole, and it seemed to hold, without the plastic holder. But now I am wondering if someone put the wrong bulb in there, so I think I’ll take out the one on the right side, and check the wattage to see what it should be. I might have to tape the bulb with duct tape to hold it in there, until I can replace the entire lens cover. Thanks again!
So that’s how it came loose. :) Good call, first thing to check is if the bulb wattage was too high for that. You can find replacement parts pretty cheap at WorldImpex.com if you want to get a new cover.
Dan: I looked at the Fred’s Tdi website and read this from someone with the same problem as me:
__________________
It’s definitely a W3W. I was in a rush about a year and a half ago and put in a W5W by mistake. They are physically the same in looks. When it burned out I noticed that the part where the bulb enters the housing was all burned. I learned my lesson.
__________________
ah ha! I have discovered the problem! BTW I looked at worldimpex.com but was unable to find the lens cover.
THANKS AGAIN! I hope these emails will help others in the future! :-)
Ah, good. I’m glad you found that. So that has to be what happened. Be sure to get the correct W3W bulb, and I searched around for another website to get a replacement cover. ECS Tuning has one here for $9.95 a piece. I can’t link directly to the product unfortunately, so just scroll down the page until you see the side markers. They’re about half-way down, give or take.
Holy cow! I was about to take my car to the dealership to change a stupid bulb when I cam across your how-to. I had it done in 5 minutes. Thanks so much!
Dan,
Any idea how to get the cover off of the turn signal mounted on the front of the mirror on a 2006 GLI?? There aren’t any screws on the outside of the lens and I turned the mirror all the way to the side to see if there were any clips or screws behind the mirror but couldn’t see anything. Any help is appreciated.
Great Krin! Glad it helped. Hey Damon, here’s a how-to at VWVortex.com on changing those turn signal bulbs housed in the rear view mirror assemblies. Hope that helps!
Dan,
Thanks, but that article was for replacing the entire signal assembly (the author had his cracked by a flying rock). Would I have to take the whole thing apart just to get at the bulb?? It looks like the outer clear plastic part may pop off, but I don’t want to force it and end up breaking it.
Hey Damon, after doing a bit more research, it looks like that is the way to get to the bulbs, unfortunately. :D I would follow it up to the point where you can remove the bulb housing to replace the bulb, then reverse the steps.
Hey Dax,
First off, thanks for the post… great great great. I’ve got both tail lights and brake lights out on my 03 Jetta Sedan. I was able to check out the passenger side bulbs which all still seem to be intact. Wondering if maybe we are dealing with an electrical problem rather than burned out lights? Any tips on how to tell before I haul it into the shop?
Hey Jenn, no problem, thank you. :D It’s possible your Jetta may have a bad “brake light switch”, which is under recall as you can see in this post. If you haven’t had your Jetta in for this repair, I would have it checked out for that. Hopefully that’s it!
hi again, i love you guys, any idea on how to replace the bulbs in the side markers of an 06′ 2.5 Jetta, both of mine have been dead for a while, fuses are good, Im just not sure how to remove the side markers. I want to try pulling em out with a Flat screwdriver but i dont want to brake anything!!!
Hey Fabian, no problem. :D This is a tricky one to figure out, but once you know it’s very simple. If you’re referring to the sidemarkers in the bumper (not on the fender), then to remove the cover, push in (toward the engine) on the side of the marker closest to the door. That will angle the other side of the cover out from the bumper. THen you should be able to slide it out of the bumper to gain access to the bulb. To reinstall, just reverse the steps. I hope you get what I mean there. It’s hard to explain without pictures! :D
Hi there. I was in desperate need of some guidance in changing my 2003’s taillight. I just went and changed it and maybe it took me 8 minutes. Thank you very much for your pictures. Honestly I only looked at them. Thank you!
I don’t see an answer to the question on replacing the driver side brake lamp on a 2004 Passat GLS. The emergency medical kit seems to be in the way. Plus the passenger side does not seem accessible either. Thank for your help.
Regards,
Greg
Great missjenn! Glad it helped you out. Hey Greg, I’m searching all over for a how-to on changing the brake lights and coming up empty. I haven’t done it myself, so I’m just assuming, but in the trunk there should be either small “doors” on each side of the trunk that open up to reveal access to the tail light area.
As you mentioned on the driver’s side, usually there is a med kit or road hazard kit installed in that location, so you may need to remove that to gain access. If so, there might be two bolts holding it to the body. However it’s attached, one thing to be VERY CAREFUL with is when installing the med kit again, do not tighten those bolts down too much, as their ends can begin to poke into the side body panel, creating reverse dents on the outside. (Matt’s Golf came from the factory with this problem, go figure)
Once you have access to the tail lights, I think there are two different panels inside the housing, one black and one gray. The gray one should house the turn signals, so you may not need to mess with that one. The black one will have the brake lights, but I don’t have a schematic of which bulb is which. You should be able to see which bulb is bad.
I hope that might give you some tips! Let us know how it goes.
Well, it turns out that you do not have to remove the first aid kit frame. There is a flap in the fabric just to the left of the first aid kit that has been cut almost all the way through. So, opening that flap provides access to the lamp fixture. The 4 snaps on the fixture are the same as you mentioned originally. You just have to be patient to wiggle the fixture out of the tight area around the tail light assembly. 3 bulbs, 2 stop and a turn signal are in the fixture. Getting the fixture back in is easier if you remember how you finally got it out. It took about 10 minutes to accomplish. Use a small flash light sitting on one of the shelves in the first aid kit for illumination. The dealer actually told us about the flap and how to do it. Thanks for your help.
Right on! Glad you got it fixed. :) And thanks for that extra detail on how to do it.
Dan, what a great vvebsite!
I am struggling with the access hatch on the 99 Jetta for the drivers side tail light.
First, all is as described but it is a real tight fit to get out.
Thanks for the insight on the missing fourth bulb being the european fog light.
Second I replaced all the lamps
Next I turned on the headlights and – nothing.
Either the tail light assembly needs to be back in contact with the metal frame or I must have pulled the socket loose. I will check tomorrow.
Third : to check for complete circuit by snapping the assembly back in place I find it very difficult to get it back in the little access hatch. And I am an electrician…
So I will try tomorrow in the sunlight.
My question revolves around the circuit needing the tailight assembly to be snapped back in to complete the circuit or if all wires are in the harness/socket.
Thanks! You are the man!!
Hey Paul! No problems, glad it’s helping you out. :) I don’t believe the assembly needs to be snapped in properly to complete the circuit, but I could be wrong. I know, I can’t stand how difficult it is to get those buggers in and out of the assembly. :D
dan, your vvebsite really helped me!
In my experience the socket has to be snapped in.
The problem, after all that, was some wires got yanked out of the front wheel well of the car. I think we will go to a mechanic for that because it will be better on a lift.
Anyway, thanks for all you do! the idea about opening the door to the cd changer really made it happen.
–paul
The projector headlight on my 04 passat is out (passenger side) is this an easy fix and how?
Hey guys, I swapped out a tail light bulb on my 04 Golf and it looked exactly like the photos. I’ve done this before but for some reason, the new light isn’t coming on this time. I used a 5008 bulb and it fit in nicely. The old one was clearly burnt out, as the filament was distorted and broken. There’s nothing I can see wrong with the housing or wires and the other lights attached to the same housing work fine. The new bulb came in a package of 2 and I tried them both. Any ideas? Thanks
I have a 2003 VW Golf and I replaced my tail light tonight with the 5008 bulb. It works great. However, for some odd reason my lights aren’t turning on inside my car anymore and my key won’t lock my car. Even when I locked my car manually instead of using the clicker, it would lock and then all the locks would unlock again. Do these two things have something in common with me changing the light bulb? I am so confused and desperately need to know what is going on. Thank you for your time.
Hey guys, sorry it’s taken me FOREVER to reply. Lots of things going on. I apologize.
William: if you have the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlights, or Xenon style, it’s basically the same method. It might vary slightly since it’s a Passat headlight, but they’re relatively straightforward to replace. As with any bulb, make sure not to touch the bulb itself when installing. Wear latex/vinyl/rubber gloves if that’ll help.
Kevin: very weird. First things to check are the fuses. If that’s not the problem, there’s also a brake light switch recall out, but I don’t think problems with that switch will cause anything to happen with the locks.
Ryan: wow how strange! Sounds like you have almost the same problem as Kevin. Wish I knew exactly what was up so I could help you guys out. Have you made sure that the bulb is seated properly in the socket, and all parts have been put back into place in the housing?
Thanks! It was so much easier than the front lights. How easy…great pix. The manual says to have the dealer do it!
This saves time and money.
We need more great instructions like these!
Super!
Hi Dan,
I have 2001 Jetta and the right rear (RR) lights are out. I removed the bulb housing form the inside and all but one bulb seen OK. I replaced three anyway. However, the metal lining of the housing has a crack in one of the prongs. The outer light fixture had a crack and some water got inside. I check the fuses on the left of the steering wheal they are ok. But, I still can;t gethe RR lights working. Do you have any suggestions? The blinker signal ion the instrument panel blinks really fast when switched to Right. I assume that’s because the RR lights are out.
Hey Sergey, is the break in the metal lining in part of the bulb assembly? If so, that could be creating a break in the bulb circuit or something like that. I’m not really sure. Yeah, the fast blinking is due to the bulb being out.
Help! How do I know how many bulbs and which ones to buy for a left driver’s side rear tail light? I read on the blog how to change it ,b ut there is a bunch of little lamps in there. So, are they all the same size, or do I buy one of each just in case?
Hey Carmen, here’s a listing of bulbs for each tail light type and its designated code which should point you to which bulb to replace. What model do you have? And let me know if that link helps out!
I’m convinced this is why God created the internet. Thanks for the help!
I have a 2007 Rabbit and the “bulb burned out” indicator came on. I changed the rear turn signal and all my lights work but the idiot light on my dash won’t go out. Is there a fancy way to turn it off like the maintenance warning light (wrench symbol) or do I have to take it in and pay something ridiculous to have it turned off?
Thanks for your help.
Curt in Calgary
Hey Curt, I haven’t heard specifically, but I would assume after changing the bulb that the computer can recognize that and turn off the indicator. Let’s hope. Otherwise the dealership, or someone with a VAG-COM could disable it.
I hope they didn’t design it that way though. Give it a few days or something and let us know if it goes out!
Lots of good info on your site. We are moving to Belgium and we’re told we need rear a fog light(s). Do you have any experience installing a rear fog light for a 2004 Passat Stationwagon? You’ve mentioned that there is a location for a rear fog light that isn’t used…have you every tried to install one? Do you think the rear fog light will turn on when you turn on front fog lights?
Thanks, Rob
Hey Rob, here are a few threads that should get you pointed in the right direction. Yeah, Europe has far stricter lighting requirements than the States. :)
Rear Fog Lights Photos
Passat Rear Fog Story
Let us know if it helps!
Dan,
Thanks for the quick response. I will look at this more this weekend when I have more time. Luckily we don’t move for several months. I will let you know how it turns out. Take care,
Rob
My husband is a mechanic so he changes my oil for me, but I can not get the blinking wrench symbol in my instrument panel to go off. The manual says a dealership has to turn it off. Do you know of a way to do it myself?
I forgot to mention that my VW is a 2008 Jetta. Thanks
Hey RJ, the only way to remove codes from the computer, which would turn off the light, is if you have a VAG-COM cable and the required software so you can “plug into” the car and change it, unfortunately. It could be possible for a local auto parts shop to do it for you as well. Good luck!
Thank you!
I have a 2006 Passat. 2 questions. How do I change the sideview mirror turn signal light bulb? My driver side vanity mirrors do not light up. Is that a fuse issue or a light bulb issue?
Thanks so much! Just changed the rear driver’s brake light on my 2003 Passat. Your photos were a huge help!
Thanks for the great info! I’m not good with cars, but the pictures and directions were really helpful. I have a 2003 Jetta and changing the tail light was a breeze. It would have cost a fortune to have it done at the dealership.
You just saved me a chunk of cash. Thank you! 2001 Jetta no longer violating the law.
All by bulbs are working and the dash idiot light still won’t go out telling me I have a burned out bulb. Believe me, they are all working. I guess I’ll have to take it in and get the dealership to turn it off.
Curt
Hey Curt, yeah if the computer has thrown a code and the CEL is on, you’ll need to have it cleared from the computer to remove the light.
ok my parking light is out but the bulb is fine do you think it would be wiring, or just a bad socket on tail light assembly?? plz email me back, tbbball2009@cableone.net
Hey Mike, yep, could be either of those things. Have you checked fuses as well? Lets hope it’s not the wiring!
Dan,
Thanks for the great info! After reading your how-to and read comments, I decided to save $50 and replace one of the right rear, duel filament, clear bulbs on my wife’s 2001 Passat.
The trunk liner in that area is secured with a small plastic, rounded nut. The stiff, formed trunk liner folds away and just as pictured above there’s the plastic assembly that easily de-latches and reveals two clear and one orange bud. Twisted out the burned out bulb, replaced it with a good one and snapped the assemble back in place. Truck liner folded back to cover the area and the nut went on as easily as it came off! It took moments! (I could take a few pictures, if anyone needs them….)
Thanks to you and all who contribute/comment on this great site!!
Best wishes,
RL Atlanta, GA USA
Dan – Great Blog!!! I just replaced the rear stop and night illumination lights in my Passat’s rear driver’s side bulb tray and wanted to pass on the information. I have pictures too, but could not post to blog – I’d be more than happy to send them to you.
1. Remove side panel cover. Unscrew (1/16 turn ccw) turn signal bulb housing (which is light grey) and remove. Disconnect upper and lower electrical connectors (the top one is Brown Wire, lower is Green Wire). I did not remove the main connector next to lower Green Wire connector (it looked too difficult to remove, and I didn’t want to damage it). Move CD Changer wire bundle out of the way of main connector wire connector (there was plenty of slack in CD Changer wire bundle to slip above CD Changer tray until Main Bulb tray could be removed.
2. Squeeze slots on upper right and lower left of bulb assembly black tray and gently wiggle until released. GENTLY maneuver black tray out of space. I used Sylvania Long Life bulbs; two 7506 bulbs for stop lights, one 7225 for night illumination.
Reverse sequence to reinstall tray. Total cost, $10.02. Not having to deal with Der Workman’s VW Shoppe, PRICELESS!!!
Deb,
Thank you so much for your additional instructions for the 2001 Jetta driver side taillight tray removal. That %#@&! “fancy” felt cover needs to be placed or cut WAY differently for it to work as intended.
I was extra POed because I’m not a very manly guy, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to figure out how to replace this bulb on my own. I got all the way to the point where that stupid cover was in the way, and couldn’t go on. I had everything else I needed, figured it all out on my own, then had to go to the internet to figure out this last step, because of their crummy design.
Shame on you, VW, for only saying “have an authorized dealer replace all of your bulbs” and then compounding this idiocy with your poor design. You will show me diagrams of lift points in the manual, but you won’t show me how to navigate around your dumb felt lininng to get my taillight out and avoid a ticket? Hellooooo! I don’t own a lift! I just need to replace my taillight, you morons! LOL! :-D
Ahem. Anyway, thanks for helping to restore my sanity, a modicum of my manliness, and my vehicle.
Thanks for the extra information guys. :D If you’d like, you can email the photos to me at dan “at” volksbloggin.com.
Hey VW Guys-
I have an ‘01 Jetta GLS and I have been having the classic problem with my brake light burning out again & again…And Yes, I have taken “Joan” to the dealer at least TWICE since the recall and supposedly they replaced the faulty switch. Since then I have even taken it a VW specialist who also assured me that I have the latest “Non Faulty” version of the brake light switch and like everyone else I have taken it to, politely replaced my bulb. Anyone have any ideas for me?
I’m tired of worrying about whether I will get pulled over or get rear ended because of this problem.
Hey Candace, if the bulbs are continually burning out, there could be a wiring problem but this is very difficult to diagnose. How much time passes between the bulbs burning out? Within months?