dash board bulb warning?

[Bodkin40]

Hi all, i'm a newbie to the forum and also to audis, i have just got a 2007 a6 2.0 tdi s-line, drives like new, but when your driving for about 10 mins, there is a warning in centre of dash that right hand front driving bulb blown, but when checked it is ok. Also once or twice it has said brake light bulb blown. that is same when checked bulb ok. Greatful for any help.

[Brycie]

This is a common problem on this model (due to condensation getting in & corroding the bulb contacts), try doing a search for 'rear light cluster' or similar and there will be some answers on that thread.

[AxeMurderer]

That's true Brycie, but he is getting a warning for a front bulb... and for a rear one, but the rear condensation/corrosion thing gives a warning for several bulbs at the same time.

Anyway, Bodkin40, it is a bit clever the way that failing bulbs are detected, and it is possible that it is flagging up bulbs that will fail shortly, but haven't yet. I'd say get yourself some new bulbs and be ready to replace them - bear in mind that the front headlamps are a right old pain to get to.

[Bodkin40]

thanks for your quick response. Looking at it, it could be thr rear condensation/corrosion as there is condensaton in 1 of the fronts and 1 of the rears. Thanks again

[AxeMurderer]

If it helps, this was my experience...

I first got the warning for one bulb only, in a rear cluster that did have some condensation. The bulb was not blown, but I changed it, and the warning went away. Months later, I got warnings for all the bulbs in the same cluster (by then not obviously suffering from condensation). That was caused by corrosion of the earth terminal; I cleaned that up with a file and some emery paper and haven't seen the warning since.

I don't actually think it is a big deal on the rears. It is a design fault, but it is pretty easy to deal with.

[Brycie]

Good catch AxeMurderer, I didn't notice that it was front bulb too. I've not had any condensation on the front lights myself & I've not heard on the forum of any others having that problem either, so this is a first for me. Good suggestion though about carrying a couple of spares just in case, I have 1 in the car for this kind of situation, even though the fronts are such a pain in the a**e to change, especially the front off side.

[AxeMurderer]

Just thought I'd add that with inevitable irony, I have a bulb failure warning this morning. Usual cluster, but I think it actually is a blown bulb...

[Brycie]

Lol, typical. I've got the two bulbs on the left side of the o/s cluster gone at the mo too. The trouble is I've got so used to assuming that it's a bad/corroded connection rather than a blown bulb that I haven't even considered changing the bulbs this time. Think I'll give it a go actually.

[ragebe]

I too have had a blown bulb warning today. Which according to this website (http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/custom_mods/bulb_finder/car_bulb_master.php?bulb_search=c1042) is a 501 bulb (it's definitely the parking lamp bulb that's blown.

Anyone any experience of replacing these, who might enlighten me?

[Brycie]

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?96370-Changing-Rear-Bulbs

Not sure if the above link will work, if not just do a search for a thread called Changing Rear Bulbs & there's lots of explanations, opinions & comments on how to do it on there. I'm not at all sure if it'll be the same on the Avant, but if you follow the first step by removing the interior panel, you'll soon see if it applies to the Avant too.

[Bodkin40]

Thanks again for all your help, sorted all lights front and rear. O/s front not at all fun. :-(