Reg plate lights staying on

**ducaticam** · 15-01-2012,03:00 PM

Hello all, My father has a W reg 1.6 gxli Octavia, his battery has been draining recently, check the drain the other day which was 0.16a. could see anything a miss, went to car following day, battery was stone dead.

when i connected jump leads to the battery i looked for a radio left on or interior lights. I found both registration plate bulbs were on, tail lights and side lights were off and the switch was in the off position. Also the dash lights were on, not like the abs/eml light, just the green dash/console lights. After starting the car i couldn't get the fault to replicate again, however it has happened when i've not been about and dad has had to phone the aa for a jump start.

Thought i'd have a look to see the bulbs werent the wrong way round, removed the tailgate rubbers and wiggled the wires to see if i could get anything to change...nope

Anyone heard of this or had this problem?

Thanks

**Bim1985** · 21-05-2012,11:14 AM

hi,

i have this exact problem with a passat b5.5. Did you resolve the issue as im stumped!

thanks

**Bim1985** · 21-05-2012,07:14 PM

Also my number plate lights are stuck on????

**cactusgreen** · 21-07-2013,05:00 PM

Old one but just seen the same on a vw polo.....if we tap the light rotary switch it lights the reg plate lights and iluminates the dials (bacground)......so I'm guessing its a faulty switch there or......duff ignition one being funky maybe?? Either way flat battery by morning...I've pulled the swich for now to see what it does in the morning.....

**john493** · 22-02-2015,04:35 PM

I've got this same problem on an 07 Octavia VRS - number plate lights permanently lit when everything on the car is switched off - also got a bulb failure warning light on dash and check registration plate lights message. All the bulbs on the car are working OK.

Any ideas ? I can see others have had this problem but I can't see any answers

**niall campbell** · 22-02-2015,06:30 PM

Must be faulty switch

Have you replaced any other bulbs ?

If you move switch to the left or right ever so slightly in the OFF position ..................... do the lights go on or off ?

**john493** · 22-02-2015,06:44 PM

Thanks Niall I'll put one of the no-plate bulbs back in & check that out.

**niall campbell** · 22-02-2015,07:59 PM

ok keep us updated

**john493** · 26-02-2015,04:02 PM

Still no joy - the number plate lights stay on 24/7 even with the light switch unplugged ! Help !!

**niall campbell** · 26-02-2015,05:08 PM

Have you got a multimeter ? I think you need to check you have power at Fuse number 4 with switch on and then no power with switch off. Check your handbook & number 4 Fuse does indeed do the lights.

If the car is a hatchback .................. then the only other thing could be the actual wiring at the tailgate hinge ! Cut the bottom of the outer sheath so the cut allows water to escape rather than enter, and have look at the wiring. Is it covered in green gunk ? Are there wires broken and touching , causing a short ?

You might be able to check the wires without cutting it.