Need help with Intermittent brake lamp check issue

[Jeronbernal]

Hey AZ'ers so i'm currently having a issue with my car, primarily the issue is that the DIS keeps telling me my right or left brake lamp is out, then i would restart my car, and it would go away sometimes, sometimes not. Very random, some days it wont happen at all, but then some days it'll happen twice or three times in a row. I shut off the car and restart it, and it'll usually go away.

I've searched through the forums, seems like some people have more of a issue with the actual brake light going off. mine is not that issue.

i have a 2005.5 FWD CVT 2.0T, i've replaced both brake bulbs and running bulbs, added bulb grease to help conductivity... anyone having this same issue? and what did you do to fix it?

I'd greatly appreciate anyones input or help with this issue... it really stresses me out pretty badly. Thank you in advance anybody who can help me out...

[LoKisSpYdR]

It sounds like a loose ground. I would start by looking at the harnesses and ensuring that all of the connectors are not loose or damaged. I'm not positive but I believe that there is a chassis ground on each side near the lights an one on the trunk. Make sure that these are intact and not damaged or frayed.

[Jeronbernal]

is it Behind the tail lights or headlights on each side? if it's in the rear, do i need to take out the carpet?

[LoKisSpYdR]

Yes you will need to remove the trunk liner in the trunk itself. Not sure about the sides.

[Jeronbernal]

Even when it says my tail light is out, it's still on, it's just the sensor thing I'm assuming if there is one? How does it sense whether the lights working or not? It will say in yellow "brake light" or "left/right brake light" but I'll check and it still works every time I've checked.

[80sGuy]

Not sure how the 'brake lamp' indicator looks like but I once had the 'bulb' icon warning when the right/rear signal bulb went out on my car with only 900 miles on the odometer. I took it to the dealer and they replaced it with a new bulb on the spot. Now my car has 36,900 with that same bulb and no warning. My advice is to replace the bulbs with FACTORY OEM parts.

[redcon1]

OP, I have this same issue with my Avant, since about a year after I purchased it. Intermittant buld failure warning on the display, but checking revealed no bad bulb and the warning would go away for a while, then reappear.

Pull your taillamp assembly. Disconnect the connector plug and pop off the bulb holder from the lens assembly.
One of my male pins in the bulb holder was burned, causing the short. I think it was due to water getting in (there is a thick gasket between the bulb holder and the lens assy, but mine seemed worn)

Also, look at the female socket on the plug. The same socket where the above male pin mated was showing evidence of burning. In my case, I replaced only the bulb holder at the time, applied a little dielectric grease to the pins and the gasket and all was good to go... till last week. Intermittant bulb failure again. So I pulled it back apart and the burned socket was worse. Pin on the bulb holder was fine, so I'll have to research the PN and get a wire/plug on order.

I'll post update if I ever get a chance to research PNs. Let us know what you find.

I found the buld holder at Genuineaudiparts.com, it was about $60 IIRC.

[GDC]

i have the exact same issue " Brake light , Left brake light"
then when i go an look they are both working fine.

i will try Redcons advice

Thnaks!

[LoKisSpYdR]

Are you guys sure that you're looking at the brake light and not the parking lights? The bulbs are dual filament and you need to be pressing the brake pedal for them to light.

[Jeronbernal]

Just went to the dealership, parts guy said b7's are single filament? o_o;;

[redcon1]

Dealership is correct. The 7506 single-filament bulb is the same fitment for the rear turn signal, brake, and reverse lamps.

[rensho]

You guys ever solve this issue?

My B7 avant keeps telling me the all the right side bulbs are out. I reseat the connector, and it is good for a few drives and then it will come back at some point. All bulbs are good, as well as tried swapping with other side, no change.

[wildcat333]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...cement-(B7-A4)

[wildcat333]

Just replace all bulbs and call it a day. It'll cost you under $15 and give you piece of mind and rule out shitty bulb issues.

[redcon1]

Just replace all bulbs and call it a day. It'll cost you under $15 and give you piece of mind and rule out shitty bulb issues.

Um you're not getting it, the bulbs aren't bad. It's the connector or the holder. You'll have intermittant bulb fail messages until you replace what's bad.

[rensho]

I ohmed out my holder. It seems fine, so it is either connector. Seems like a strange thing to fail. I already put dialectric grease, which didn't help.

i'm wondering if the pins on the wired plug is not making great connection. I did see that once the car turns on, if the lights don't pass diag, the circuit is left off until the next 'ON' interval.

[rensho]

As an update, my issue turned out to be the connectors in the wired end plug. I inserted a sharp pick and bent/closed the pin connectors more. This should have allowed a tighter connection with the pins in the lamp housing. Been 30+ days and no sign of the lamp out warning.