Spoiler brake light removal

[Kevin Turvey]

My high level brake light has stopped working (the other ones work fine).
It looks like the spoiler has to come off to get to it.
I took out the 8mm hex nut from each end of the spoiler, but there seems to be one in the middle which I can't get to because the black plastic trim on the inside of the tailgate is in the way.
My problem is, I can't see how this is held on.
Any advice?

 

[Kevin Turvey]

Thanks for all your help, guys.

I searched the forum and found lots of bad information. To clear a few things up, here are some facts:

1. I read a few posts where people were suggesting that when only the high level brake light (or only the lower ones) worked that this was down to a faulty brake light switch. That is rubbish. I took out my switch and took it to pieces. It is purely a spring loaded plunger switch. ON or OFF. That's it. There are not two separate circuits within the switch. If you replace this switch to fix your high level brake light, you are wasting your time and money.

2. Someone said that you could replace the bulbs in the high level brake light unit. That is also rubbish. It is a sealed unit containing L.E.D.s. You cannot replace the 'bulbs'.

3. It is an absolute PIG to get off. To remove it, you have to remove the spoiler (which means breaking the sealing foam tape around its edges) plus the middle spoiler retaining nut is almost impossible to get to. Once off, you should be able to remove or loosen the two screws holding the light into the spoiler and tilt the light and pull it out. Well that's what should happen, but the captive nuts (on the inside of the light unit) just turn in their plastic housing, making it impossible to undo the screws. I had to resort to levering on the screw heads and snapping the light unit to get it out.

4. Used ones seem to be impossible to get and a new one is £54.00!

All the above is fact. Could people who do not know what they are talking about not post their 'advice'? It will save others a lot of time.

 

[lil3520]

thanks for info, hope my bulb never goes.

 

[aidenflannigan]

yeah my light has gone too!!! after reading your thread i'm going to give it a stiff ignoring. thanks

 

[Willie]

So, how the feck did all my beasties get in there if its that hard to get into???

 

[Willie]

Aye it a bug grave yard my car, will get pictures of these when get back home next weekish.
All the rear lights have critters in them. Some pretty interesting ones too
David Belamy would have a 'feel day'on my car

 

[JamJay]

Mine's gone too, which I'm not too worried about at the moment although I will get it done at the same time as the next service in a month or so. I'm pretty sure you'd have to get it done to pass an MOT though, surely a high level brake light is in the "if present, must work" category the same as your spare wheel and centre rear seatbelt?

And surely there must be loads of whole spoiler units in scrappies from front end damaged Leons? As far as I know all Leons have the same spoiler at the top of the boot, there was a thread on it a while back (someone asking whether they should swap their non-Cupra one for a Cupra one and I'm pretty sure the outcome of the thread was that the part number was the same no matter which Leon variant you had).

I think the Cupra R had a slightly bigger spoiler IIRC

 

[oldman]

the high level spoiler rear brake light is not in the mot.

i had mine fail and asked dealers in case plod nicked me, they said it is an optional light and those in main cluster will get you nicked and will fail if not working.

 

[JamJay]

Could be, I'm just relying on my memory, I can't find the thread now. Maybe it was just non-Cupra and Cupra that are the same then, and Cupra R are a bit bigger.

also

Lol, I meant the " " as I don't know myself, wasn't picking holes in your post . I was just sure that I read somewhere that the higher 2 models has a bigger spoiler. Either way, both will fit I think.

 

[aidenflannigan]

You do not need the spoiler brake light to pass an MOT. It is not a safety device like a seatbelt neither does it fall into the same category as a spare tyre as there are no laws covering a useless piece of plastic (fly catcher/water retainer) attached to your car.

Mine's gone too, which I'm not too worried about at the moment although I will get it done at the same time as the next service in a month or so. I'm pretty sure you'd have to get it done to pass an MOT though, surely a high level brake light is in the "if present, must work" category the same as your spare wheel and centre rear seatbelt?

And surely there must be loads of whole spoiler units in scrappies from front end damaged Leons? As far as I know all Leons have the same spoiler at the top of the boot, there was a thread on it a while back (someone asking whether they should swap their non-Cupra one for a Cupra one and I'm pretty sure the outcome of the thread was that the part number was the same no matter which Leon variant you had).

 

[Willie]

the high level spoiler rear brake light is not in the mot.

i had mine fail and asked dealers in case plod nicked me, they said it is an optional light and those in main cluster will get you nicked and will fail if not working.

Well guys, the high level brake light IS part of the MOT.

I'll be trying to remove this tonight as this was one of my MOT fail things.
Now if its fitted to your car it must work

 

[oldman]

cheers for update Willie
any idea on when this changed? and was it a single bulb out or whole thing? that made it fail

and looks like it has been part since 2005;
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_130.htm
if my understanding is right

 

[paradigm]

Well guys, the high level brake light IS part of the MOT.

I'll be trying to remove this tonight as this was one of my MOT fail things.
Now if its fitted to your car it must work

Mine passed less than 6 months ago without the high-level light.

However I am replacing mine next week, already worked out how (had the old one out to see if I could fix it), its not that difficult, you have to separate the top and bottom of the spoiler, then fasten it back together with a bit of sikkaflex.

 

[Willie]

Well guys theres good news and bad. The new legislation came in relaivly recently. mine works but is just obscured with 'stuff' even though its a fully sealed unit.
The spoiler (on the LCR) is removed by unbolting the three bolts under this piece, one is below the trim. Then it is only connected with the electrical cable which has a connector that can be disconnected. with the spoiler off there is two pieces of black tape covering holes. Below these holes you can see two screws, these are the ones that hold the light to the spoiler. You will need a very long star headed screw driver to loosen these.
Then get on the phone to David at Seremotors for a new one

This only has to be working if fitted to the car
If its not fitted to the car then it cannot fail

 

[jonnypearce72]

Hello lads the high level brake light is part of the MoT test but can only be failed if the light comes on during a test and extingishes with the others remaining on (with the brake pedal applied of course!). If however the light doesn't come on the MoT tester must assume that it is not wired up. This is the law i've been a tester since 2004. If your car fails you can appeal against it (it's on the back of your VT30)

 

[cumbriacupra]

All cars registered 1999 onwards must have a working high level brake light to pass an MOT.

 

[mickalodean]

Hi,

I changed the light on my spoiler brakelight this morning.

There is a lot of posts about this with conflicting advice and lots of people saying it is stupidly difficult. Took me less than 30 mins.

In order to establish whether your brake light is broken or whether there is an alternative electrical problem somewhere further down the line. Remove the light (explanation below).
Then, get some wire and plug the light into the main car battery. If it lights up - some other problem I can't advise with.

If the light doesn't work, then at least you have potentially narrowed down the issue.
I bought a second hand high level brake light from ASM which is a car breakers place for £15 inc. VAT.

In order to remove the spoiler, remove the two bolts either side which are hidden under some plastic bobble things.

Then you need to get the middle bolt, lots of people say this is really difficult but I was surprised how easy it was. Pull down the black plastic trim at the top of the boot by the window. It should bend enough that you can get the spanner in and undo it.
You may need to get someone to help with lifting the spoiler off the car.

On my car there were two bits of electrical tape either side of the light. Behind them is two screw. Undo them and the light will come free.

I hope this helps

 

[Brettyboy]

Can anyone tell me me if the high level brake light on a cupra r boot spoiler is the same as the 1 on the smaller pre facelift 1 ?

Reason i ask is i've got a cupra r spoiler to go on mine but the brake light has a crack in it

 

[RichyH]

Update on this regarding the MOT for future readers the upper brake light is in the MOT, its a break light? 2/3 of the bulbs have to be working, if only one LED bulb has gone its fine and will pass the MOT however if 2 or all (3) of the bulbs have gone or are not working then it will fail the MOT, SEAT only replace the whole unit which is around the £200 mark, so doing it yourself is a sensible option, by the advice above if its just the LED strip that needs replacing (obviously) finding these strips however is a pain, good luck


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