Bulb Warnings

[Loonyjuice]

I get frequent, and random, false bulb failure notifications. Usually stop or reg-plate bulbs. It's something that's bugged me since day one really, and nobody else appears to have a problem. I've mentioned it to the stealers twice and they've ignored me or fobbed me off with a bulb on it's way out.

I'm aware that it's a voltage drop, but why not just report a fault when the voltage is at (near) zero rather than just different - then we could all use LED DRL's without a problem!

Am I alone?

 

[Ian-2]

Yeh, I too have a reg plate bulb failure even though it works.

Does anyone know what bulbs I need off hand, saves me taking the light apart.

I might have a go at cleaning the connections while I'm there.

 

[mcdonald]

Does anyone know what bulbs I need off hand, saves me taking the light apart.

Festoon 39mm.

 

[Shaun_E]

I used to get random number plate bulb warnings. At the last service the dealer replaced it at no charge. Not had a reoccurrence since.

 

[Nath.]

I get frequent, and random, false bulb failure notifications. Usually stop or reg-plate bulbs. It's something that's bugged me since day one really, and nobody else appears to have a problem. I've mentioned it to the stealers twice and they've ignored me or fobbed me off with a bulb on it's way out.

I'm aware that it's a voltage drop, but why not just report a fault when the voltage is at (near) zero rather than just different - then we could all use LED DRL's without a problem!

Am I alone?

It's all to do with the resistance of the filament in the bulb and the resistance of the bulb connections (well the resistance of the circuit really but those are the 2 weak points), Just because the bulb works it doesn't mean it's not flickering or glowing dim. I agree though that the system in the Exeo has a very tight tolerance for bulb failure warnings. This is why most LED bulbs on ebay that say can bus friendly or error free still don't work in an Exeo. If you want LED DRL's you can do an easy resistor mod that only means a small modification to the bulb holder and not the wiring loom. (Warranty)

 

[Ian-2]

What is this mod? Soldering a resistor across the bulbs terminals or something? What size resistor would we need?

 

[mcdonald]

What is this mod? Soldering a resistor across the bulbs terminals or something? What size resistor would we need?

http://translate.google.com/transla...hp?3882-SEAT-Exeo-3R-DRLs-met-LEDs-uitgevoerd

 

[Mafu]

My Exeo used to throw up bulb warnings every so often a few months back, and especially if the car had just been washed. (Front Left Parking Lights - if I remeber correctly) Last time she was serviced by SEAT they spotted it on the fault reader, cleaned and tightened the contacts and touch wood she's been grand since. May not be your fault but always worth a look.

 

[MisterW]

I had an A4 for a few years before I got the Exeo. That would periodically throw up Stop Light & No plate light bulb warnings. Usually it was an indication that the bulb was a bit 'iffy'.
All this talk of bulbs reminds me, I must check how to change the headlight bulbs on the Exeo, it was a right pain on the A4!. The manual didn't help at all, 'Take to your Audi Dealer' was its advice. Eventually I found the procedure on t'internet.

 

[Mafu]

It can be done, its just the usual VAG question of how much skin you want to loose from your knuckles....

 

[applz]

Hello everyone
For Your information.
Ive had a few problems with rear lightning.
First I got some fault messages for faulty rear lights.
The problem was the rear right LED assembly in the boot that was broken.
My dealer fixed it but after couple of months I started getting warnings about broken number plate bulbs.
The dealer had to replace the numberplate cable harness and the bulb fittings due to corrosion. Apparently the number plate light harness and the contacts are not sealed from weather at all.. (or were not until now)

Just a taught that might be good to check behind the rear bumper and the cable harness before the winter.

 

[Nath.]

I reckon the reason people get the reg plate bulb warning is because the 2 bulbs are wired parallel to each other, this means that the resistance of the 2 bulbs is halved. The resistance is then on the threshold of what the can bus is looking for to throw an error.

With regard to the reg plate error it probably is cheap bulbs causing the problem.

 

[Larfinboy]

seem to get number plate bulb warning light every time it rains - I just ignore it now and it seems to go away after a few minutes of its own accord

 

[Ian-2]

Right, both my rear number plate lights have stopped working and I have a fault on my dash display.

Bought new bulbs from Halfords (same as last one that worked) and they do not work either, I have voltage at the terminals of the light housings and old bulbs work too.

I've had a good look on the net about Audi number plate lights but I can only find problems with corroded housings/terminals.

Where do you guys think the problem could lie?

 

[Larfinboy]

Have a chat with the dealer - I popped in for something else a few weeks back and mentioned the number plate bulb issue - and they said there was a tech note and fix for it, but I didnt have time to get it sorted then and there.

 

[Ian-2]

Cheers, worth a shot!

 

[Ian-2]

Took car to Seat for it's service today and to sort number plate light fault.

Dicky wire behind bumper apparently, £77 fix. Don't feel too ripped off as I was out of ideas anyway.