A4/B7 DYI License plate LED ERROR fix

[acar7145]

So i went ahead and took the risk of replacing the license plate bulbs with LED's and as expected! got the error on the dash... i tried it for a couple days and decided to switch to a new set of canbus bulbs with heat sink after i got annoyed of the error light. To my surprise not only did i get the error light again but there was a beep sound every 2 seconds which drove me crazy and got me to do a bit of research for the solution. i came up with different solutions as far as resistors but couldnt come with one resistor since people posted using 10ohm 25W, or 50w 3ohm, etc. so i came across a post that looked like the setup was similar to mine and decided to try it. thank god i did now im riding error free!

So i decided to do a post and see if i could help anyone else having the same issue! (this worked on my car, im not resposible for any damages done to your vehicle)

Tools needed:
1. Screw driver
2. (2) 100 ohm 1W resistors (Got mine at radioshack)
3. Heat Shrink
4. (2) Canbus LED bulbs
5. Lighter (to heat heat shink)

________________________

1. Remove the license plate light cover by removing 1 screw from each side. Then remove bulb.

2. grab your resistors! here are the ones i used...cost about 2$ at your local radioshack



3. Then what i did was slide the resistor inside a piece of heat shrink and using my lighter heated the shrink a bit so it would wrap around the resistor. (i gave it two layers of heat shrink just in case).



4.Then i pretty much wrapped each corner tip of the resistor to the connecting pins on the license plate light housing. You can also weld it but for me it was tight enough and making contact without the need to weld it.



I first did it to just one bulb because somewhere i read you just needed to add the resistor to one bulb but when i installed them the error light went off for the license plate but gave me a left foglight warning and foglight wouldnt turn on. So i then added another resistor to the other bulb using the same process as the first, got them installed and worked perfectly fine. now my foglights and headlights work fine as well as the LED license plate light and all without any errors on my dash!

i forgot to take pics when it was done but i'll see if i can do that today and show you the final product! i hope this helps some of you with the same issue.

[Guitarmageddon]

This may be a dumb question, but after reading a lot of "bulb-out warning" threads/fixes, can the error just be coded out?

[djpaw]

wow...that led has a awesome heatsink itself.

[acar7145]

This may be a dumb question, but after reading a lot of "bulb-out warning" threads/fixes, can the error just be coded out?

as far as im concerned im pretty sure you can get rid of it via VAG-COM, now im not sure if this is a permanent or temporary solution so i pretty much went with what i had at the moment

[Charles.waite]

This may be a dumb question, but after reading a lot of "bulb-out warning" threads/fixes, can the error just be coded out?

Nope.

[Schweini]

2. (2) 100 ohm 1W resistors (Got mine at radioshack)

Get ready to have some melted lighting housings! Or at least a lot of browning. There is a write-up on this already, and I cover exactly what you need for this specific circuit. The circuit in the car draws out around 3.8w If I remember correctly, your resistors having a power rating of 1w are going to sizzle really fast my friend. That heatshrink your putting on is only going to cause the sizzling resistor to burn and deteriorate much quicker.

If you give 2 shits about what I think, you can read this. I kind of summarize it up:



If you want to know the details about the resistors, it's this: When you replace the OEM bulbs which which have a resistance of 37 Ohms, with LED's, what you're essentially doing is eliminating that 37 Ohm's of resistance. This is because LED's have next to no resistance properties to them. You NEVER consider them a load. Now, because that OEM bulb is not in the equation and LED's have no resistance, you have a straight 12v shooting through the LED's and the ampere rating is almost non-existent. The cars Canbus system reads this, and displays this fault as an error out light display. So what we now have to do, is find a resistor that can match the value of the OEM Bulb to take it's place. a 37 Ohm bulb and a 12v power source gives you an ampere rating of .32 Amps. This is what your car wants to see. So now we need to find a resistor that will produce the same ampere rating when shooting 12v through it. I used the 50 Ohm resistor, so this with 12v will produce an ampere rating of .24 amps.

You're probably saying, well that doesn't match the cars OEM bulb at all??? Well, the LED's have a very minute resistive property, so tacking on a .006 milli-Amp or so will raise the .24A VERY close to the .32A the car wants. This is also why this DIY should be labelled that this will work using THESE specific LED's and THIS specific resistor. Different LED's will have different resistive properties and can but probably wont alter your values. This DIY I came up with was what i found worked best for my application. This will not work for every Audi model

Now when it comes to the Wattage, the 5w as we see on the resistor, that is simply stating how much power that resistor can dissipate. The OEM circuit draws 12V x .32A = 3.84 wattage. This resistor can withstand up to 5w, so in this application, you're good to go.

[Dirtyylicous]

Op listen to shweini, he knows his led/resistor stuff

[doublezero30]

I had those bulbs and they burnt out in about 6 months. Said fuck it and spent the $45 shipped for the ECS assembelies and am very happy I did so.

[fly300kts]

Coming soon



Phil

[Schweini]

lmao ^

[acar7145]

Get ready to have some melted lighting housings! Or at least a lot of browning. There is a write-up on this already, and I cover exactly what you need for this specific circuit. The circuit in the car draws out around 3.8w If I remember correctly, your resistors having a power rating of 1w are going to sizzle really fast my friend. That heatshrink your putting on is only going to cause the sizzling resistor to burn and deteriorate much quicker.

If you give 2 shits about what I think, you can read this. I kind of summarize it up:



If you want to know the details about the resistors, it's this: When you replace the OEM bulbs which which have a resistance of 37 Ohms, with LED's, what you're essentially doing is eliminating that 37 Ohm's of resistance. This is because LED's have next to no resistance properties to them. You NEVER consider them a load. Now, because that OEM bulb is not in the equation and LED's have no resistance, you have a straight 12v shooting through the LED's and the ampere rating is almost non-existent. The cars Canbus system reads this, and displays this fault as an error out light display. So what we now have to do, is find a resistor that can match the value of the OEM Bulb to take it's place. a 37 Ohm bulb and a 12v power source gives you an ampere rating of .32 Amps. This is what your car wants to see. So now we need to find a resistor that will produce the same ampere rating when shooting 12v through it. I used the 50 Ohm resistor, so this with 12v will produce an ampere rating of .24 amps.

You're probably saying, well that doesn't match the cars OEM bulb at all??? Well, the LED's have a very minute resistive property, so tacking on a .006 milli-Amp or so will raise the .24A VERY close to the .32A the car wants. This is also why this DIY should be labelled that this will work using THESE specific LED's and THIS specific resistor. Different LED's will have different resistive properties and can but probably wont alter your values. This DIY I came up with was what i found worked best for my application. This will not work for every Audi model

Now when it comes to the Wattage, the 5w as we see on the resistor, that is simply stating how much power that resistor can dissipate. The OEM circuit draws 12V x .32A = 3.84 wattage. This resistor can withstand up to 5w, so in this application, you're good to go.

Hey thanks for the info! and of course i care and im glad you pointed this out since im a newbie pretty much at this, so which resistors should i go with?

[acar7145]

Coming soon



Phil

So what do you recommend? which resistors should i use?

[fly300kts]

I don't want to beat a dead horse here but a DIY is posted in the tech section.
However, I have been criticized because it seems that I am always doing more complicated than necessary.
Put it this way: for me, safety and reliability are a must but at the end, do whatever you want it's your car.


Phil

[acar7145]

I don't want to beat a dead horse here but a DIY is posted in the tech section.
However, I have been criticized because it seems that I am always doing more complicated than necessary.
Put it this way: for me, safety and reliability are a must but at the end, do whatever you want it's your car.


Phil

Hey im not here to judge but to share ideas and learn! Since you post a picture of a car in flames i do want to hear what you got to say it might help me in the end so all help is greatly appreciated and you could post which thread has the info ive seen a bunch but im a newbie here with not much experience on audis

[fly300kts]

And since you are close to me, get the parts I did and I will be glad to install them for you free of charge.
Why?
Just because I care

Phil

[Dirtyylicous]

And since you are close to me, get the parts I did and I will be glad to install them for you free of charge.
Why?
Just because I care

Phil

Now that is a good man right there

[Schweini]

Hey thanks for the info! and of course i care and im glad you pointed this out since im a newbie pretty much at this, so which resistors should i go with?

You're welcome, the only thing you did wrong was use the wrong resistor. Other than that, your logic behind it all is pretty spot on.

You'll want two 50 Ohm, 5 Watt resistors. Replace them with the ones you bought and you're good to go for $3-$5

these are the exact resistors I used, bought I didn't buy a pack of 5. Search ebay and you'll find them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-ohm-5-Wat...item3a7b4c39a2


EDIT: wow, actually found a better deal than the ones I originally purchased, $2 for 10

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ten-Ohmite-5...item1c2fcb5f80

[wildcat333]

[Mister W]

Coming soon



Phil

Well, i dont want to be dramatic, but that give's me job, and job give's me money, a money buy mods. So hey! buy what ever resistor you want ;)

[mcbuck]

EDIT: wow, actually found a better deal than the ones I originally purchased, $2 for 10

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ten-Ohmite-5...item1c2fcb5f80

just ordered these, thanks for the link! now I've got to figure out how to get the light housings out because both phillips heads are stripped. looks like I'll be pulling the whole assembly and drilling....fun for me!

[acar7145]

You're welcome, the only thing you did wrong was use the wrong resistor. Other than that, your logic behind it all is pretty spot on.

You'll want two 50 Ohm, 5 Watt resistors. Replace them with the ones you bought and you're good to go for $3-$5

these are the exact resistors I used, bought I didn't buy a pack of 5. Search ebay and you'll find them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-ohm-5-Wat...item3a7b4c39a2


EDIT: wow, actually found a better deal than the ones I originally purchased, $2 for 10

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ten-Ohmite-5...item1c2fcb5f80

Thanks i really appreciate the help! im gonna buy those today!

[acar7145]

And since you are close to me, get the parts I did and I will be glad to install them for you free of charge.
Why?
Just because I care

Phil

which parts do i need to get? and i didnt notice we were close by! thanks for the offer i might take you up on that one lol..

[fly300kts]

which parts do i need to get? and i didnt notice we were close by! thanks for the offer i might take you up on that one lol..

Anytime

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...oblem-Solution

Phil

[Schweini]

just ordered these, thanks for the link! now I've got to figure out how to get the light housings out because both phillips heads are stripped. looks like I'll be pulling the whole assembly and drilling....fun for me!

No problem. yeah, my screws got stripped very fast as well. I had to put some modified self taping screws in there to keep the housings on nice and strong. Those OEM screws are soft.

Thanks i really appreciate the help! im gonna buy those today!

No worries. I wish I could buy some too, they won't ship to Canada

[wildcat333]

just ordered these, thanks for the link! now I've got to figure out how to get the light housings out because both phillips heads are stripped. looks like I'll be pulling the whole assembly and drilling....fun for me!

Mine started to get stripped as well. Phillips was not working, so I used a mini flathead that was really narrow at the end, and jammed it into the soft metal just enough to start the screw turning.

[mcbuck]

I wish I could buy some too, they won't ship to Canada

no idea what it would cost to ship, but it was a lot of 10 and obviously I don't need that many. When I get 'em, I'll see what it would cost to send you some...

[Schweini]

no idea what it would cost to ship, but it was a lot of 10 and obviously I don't need that many. When I get 'em, I'll see what it would cost to send you some...

That would be pretty awesome, very nice of you

Thanks buddy

[mcbuck]

got the above mentioned resistors, they were too big to go in the individual housings, wouldn't fit with the heat sinks on the LEDs. Ended up soldering and wiring them in outside the housings. Good news is the bulb out error is finally gone.....

[Schweini]

Glad your bulb out error is gone, and only for $2!

[Mlambrecht17]

Mega bump but I need help, I have the 5W 50ohm resistors in my housings like pictured above, with 12v leds with heat sinks built in, I didn't put any heat shrink on them, and when I had them on for about 3 minutes, they got extremely hot, too hot to touch, I figured this would be bad and maybe a fire hazard, can anyone help me out here?

[mattj150]

Mega bump but I need help, I have the 5W 50ohm resistors in my housings like pictured above, with 12v leds with heat sinks built in, I didn't put any heat shrink on them, and when I had them on for about 3 minutes, they got extremely hot, too hot to touch, I figured this would be bad and maybe a fire hazard, can anyone help me out here?

The resistors will get hot because they are taking the load that would of gone to the OEM bulb to cancel out the error. It's best to locate the resistors AWAY from anything that could melt or become a fire hazard. I used these ones as they dissipate the heat better since they have heat sinks. I also wrapped my resistors in heat shield for extra protection.

[Mlambrecht17]

The resistors will get hot because they are taking the load that would of gone to the OEM bulb to cancel out the error. It's best to locate the resistors AWAY from anything that could melt or become a fire hazard. I used these ones as they dissipate the heat better since they have heat sinks. I also wrapped my resistors in heat shield for extra protection.

Could you post up a picture of what you have? And how hot do your resistors get?

[DanKing]

Is it just cluster with the colored DIS that throws bulb out errors ... I've yet to have a bulb out error :-/ and I run leds in my license plate ?

[Mlambrecht17]

I'm not worried about the bulb out error, I'm just worried about it getting too hot