Changing rear lights on a 2004 Polo ?

[mahutchinson]

Anyone know if this is easy to do ? I need to change a brake light but cannot see how to get access. All I can see are small black plastic plugs. Is it just a case of undoing the relevant one ?

[vc-10]

It's really very easy. In the boot pull away the side carpeting behind the light cluster. There is a black plastic wingnut sort of thing, unscrew it. The inner side of the cluster is then loose. Lift the cluster up and it will come away. Unplug the wiring, and then unclip the (white? It's a while since I've done it) plastic bulb holder, and replace the necessary bulbs. Took me almost as long to write this up as it did to change the bulb on mine, very easy really!

[barnacle]

yes it is easy. First step undo the black wingnut "nut" - it is a nut designed to be undone with your fingers. Remove the wingnut - it may be held by a plastic strap to stop it falling into the boot area. Then you need to wiggle the outer side of the rear lamp assembly out of the rear wing. It is held in place against the rear wing with two metal spring clips. Pulling upwards on the light unit whilst wiggling it rearwards will help. just depends how many times they have been out - mine were quite tight but keep yanking you will not break anything.
Once the whole unit is out it is obvious - just unclip the cover and the bulbs are right there.

[mahutchinson]

Thanks for that. It was surprisingly simple given how difficult these things are often made these days. At first I thought a metal nut was holding the housing in as I couldn't budge it but it seems that is for some other purpose. It was raining which didn't help and the Halfords bulb kit is difficult to understand as the paper with it gives the bulbs references which aren't on the bulbs themselves. However it turns out each bulb is different so quite easy to match. I was a bit concerned that the orange bulb in the housing was covered with small orange particles (plastic coating ?) but seemed to work fine. I had a bad experience with a front bulb having it changed at an independent garage (because it said something in the instructions about the bulbs exploding !) and they damaged the housing meaning at the MOT I had to have the whole unit replaced by VW at £150.

[vwcabriolet1971]

The most annoying thing about this bulb replacement is that VW does not stock separate foam seals to fit around the housing . Most seals of this type become hardened with age and lose their compressability , Thus you cannot absolutely guarantee that the light assembly will not leak unless you apply some sealant ontop of the hardened foam gasket.
I just hope that you do not have replace the high level rear brake light in the future . All the tailgate trim needs to come out to gain access to the 3 screws that secure the lamp housing .Putting back the trim is a nighmare with all the invisible clips to line up with the invisible slots in the bodywork . By invisible I mean that you can't see them !!!.

[mahutchinson]

Well I was referring to orange particles on bulbs and now the car has just failed its MOT due to incorrect colour of nearside front and offside rear indicators. They look fine to me but I suppose they actually look at the bulbs themselves. Wonder why this happens ? I presume it's just a matter of cleaning them ?

[vwcabriolet1971]

The MOT test merely looks at the colour of the light output not at the bulbs themselves.You need new bulbs . The amber coating on these bulbs does not last forever . They do need handling carefully to avoid small scratches to the coating.

[taproot]

Thanks for advice on the rear bulbs - liked being told to keep yanking! you never know how far to go with something plastic like that.

Cheers