Ashtray light bulb and door courtesy light

[GTI X Man]

Hi - please can anyone help? The bulb that lights up the ashtray (and cig lighter) is fused. How do you get to it to change it? Also on the inside of the driver's door there is a red/white lamp that should come on to warn motorists behind that your door is open. The one on the near side (passenger) door works ok and the interior lights all come on ok too. I've checked the bulb and holder - they ok. Thanks

[joeb]

Hi,

Ashtray bulb:
This was answered for me just before crimbo - worked a treat.

Take ash tray out, get torx screwdriver that fits screw underneath ash tray, then remove.

Slide the ash tray lid slightly forward. Tilt whole unit back, and pull upwards and out... Disconnect cable behind cigar lighter socket.

Carefully unclip the black bulb holder from the clear plastic side of the cigar socket (apparently, they can't be replaced without the entire ash tray - which is quite expensive I think)... Then, you have to open the bulb holder.

Thin screw drivers, tough nails and so on are required - patience is the key, otherwise breakage of parts, or stabbing of fingers is likely to ensue. That said, it only took about 10 mins, to complete the job, and then the bulb way revealed. Take care, when opening the bulb holder, as there are some metal contacts that clip around the holder and fall out, so don't do the job on a **** pile carpet, or even in the car - do it on the kitchen table ;-)

And have a hoover ready if you're a smoker, it was nasty under the ash tray unit after 8 years!!

WRT the door light - do the interior lights come on when you open the door? Sorry, not clear from your post. If the interior lights come on, but the one in the door does not, it is likely the bulb in the door, and that unit should pop out pretty easily like the side indicators do... If however no interior lights come on (and on mine, no petrol pump priming noise when you open the door for the first time in an hour or so), then try whacking the flat of the door, just under the lock, with the ball of your hand... not so hard you hurt yourself, then see if they come on - that was happening to me... All in all, it related to the door open switch, which is apparently inside the damned door lock, so I was glad to have found that fault back in the good old days of a warranty ;-)

Hope for you, it's just a bulb, as the door locks are likely not cheap, but then again, it MIGHT be possible to repair / replace the microswitch within - that would be beyond my knowledge though...

[batteryman]

Got the same problem on my nearside door - no light. The light unit prises out from one side, can't remember which. The bulb is a festoon type and it's best to take the old one to get a replacement because there are lots of different sizes. It's a bit of a job to get the bulb back in and fitted properly. It wasn't the bulb in mine and it's still not working; I'll get round to having a proper look when there's more daylight when I get home from work.

[GTI X Man]

Many thanks for your help on the Ashtray light. I will have a go at fixing it now.

With regard to the door light - it is just the light in the door that is not working properly (its red with a white lower section). The other interior lights come on ok when you open the door etc. The bulb is ok I've checked that. It does come out ok. I just prized it out from the door and unclipped it. Since my post I've rechecked and noticed that the light comes on sometimes when the door is opened from the inside ie when you are about to get out of the car. The light comes on just as you pull the interior door handle, however most times it just goes out again in a couple of seconds even though the door is open!

I'll have a go at giving the door a whack as you described. From what you say - it sounds like it could be the switch in the door handle. But any way - Many thanks for your assistance.

[joeb]

might be the cables running to that light, or the actual fitting then - if all other interior lights come on when you open that door, the switch is likely OK... Have you tried checking the connections to that light?

Not tried to change one myself before, but could the bulb holder be swapped with one that you know is good?

[GTI X Man]

Hi - yes I'll see if I can get to the leads and check them. I did swap over the light unit from the other door - so I know that is ok. Many thanks. I'll let you know how I get on.