Center Brake Light or 3rd Brake Light Problem

[heffer]

So starting Friday night I went to leave a restaurant and I started my car and my dash had a light come on saying center brake light. I had my wife look and she said it was out. When I got home I had her look again and she said it was back on. I didn't have any problems Saturday or Sunday. But when I got in my car to leave work today it went out again. I got home and researched and didn't come up with much. I just started my car and it is working fine again. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm considering replacing the light, but I don't want to waste $50 if I don't need to.

[Newb8]

I've been having the same issue, but very intermittently. Centere brake light fails and illuminates warning on the dash, then the next time I start up it's working again. Is the entire light fixture $50 or is that the light cost?

[ramellis65]

Same shit here it can come on a couple times in one day and then never for a week and then back on for two days and off its stupid and the dealer was like everything check out so its one of those things you just deal with it. Its $150 for that rear center top light

[heffer]

http://genuineaudiparts.com/parts/20...iagram=1399962

It's some what nice to know I'm not the only one. $44 plus shipping. It's just the light but my guess is that's the issue.

[Leaudi]

I had mine do the same thing. I had noticed that it was only when I left the car outside, where the sun would hit the center brake light. I guess it would over heat it or something. Took the car to the dealer because it was getting annoying having the brake light out every other day, they couldnt do anything unless the light was out. I left the car to get the oil consumption test, and by luck the light was out when they started doing the oil test. Car was still under warranty, they replaced the center brake light saying it was faulty. And yes it was about 150$ which I saved.

[heffer]

I'm guessing that fixed it though?


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[holyShred24]

I have the same exact thing but i know for a fact that mine still works even though the dashboard warning light is saying its out. Doest really bug me anymore as long as i know its working. When i talked to the dealership they said one or two bulbs out of the whole led string might be out or acting up thats sending a fault signal saying its out.


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[Sin_city_Rings]

Same issue here…. seems its a bigger wide spread issue than just me.

[markinarch]

Same issue and just had it fixed Monday. They did replace the light but the cause they wrote on the service sheet said something like "faulty LED harness" or something like that. I'll see what it says when I get home after work and post it here.

[heffer]

Dang, not sure how to replace the harness


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[markinarch]

Dang, not sure how to replace the harness


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Well that may not be exactly what it is. There were so many things I had fixed Monday I can't remember the exact cause of that issue. I do remember I was taken by surprise when I read the cause bc I was just expecting it to say "bulb out".... I'll post it later so don't worry just yet.

[holyShred24]

Im getting mine looked at next wednesday. I figured im going there to get my cats checked might as well have em check my brake light. Hoping for free stuff since im still under warranty.


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[markinarch]

Alright. So it looks like you just need to replace the entire brake light assemble. My service sheet states the following:

Concern: Customer states - center brake light inop - indicator comes on intermittenly

Cause: High mount brake light assembly faulty LED circuit proper voltage and ground circuit available.

Correction: replaced high mount brake light

Tech notes: high mount brake light assembly faulty LED circuit; 12.7 volts per side correct and ground circuit 0.1V correct into assembly failure internal

Part# VWN 8K5945097


Hope this helps!!

Oh and I also noticed today that all my VAG coding was erased. No more needle sweep, ambient lighting, DRL always on, key fob window controls... sad day. Now I need to find someone with a cable I can borrow. :(

[heffer]

Thanks for your help markinarch!

[hoodis]

Have the same problem, beyond warranty now.

Goes off and on. If you actually press on the top of the car you can get it to reactivate when it's out, and the guy at 034M had seen it before.

The part is $44, but any idea of installation costs? Is it a difficult thing to access and service?

[vacsimile]

I've done at least 100 of these. Really easy to install. Just pull down on the edge of the headliner that overhangs the third brake light. You'll hear and feel the clips slide out of the slots when you get it. Then take the third brake light and slide it down towards the bottom of the rear glass. It helps to peel the bottom edge of the light away from the glass and get your fingers under it, palms on the other side and pull down and back. Don't pull straight down, pull towards where the rear glass meets the trunk lid.

[hoodis]

I've done at least 100 of these. Really easy to install. Just pull down on the edge of the headliner that overhangs the third brake light. You'll hear and feel the clips slide out of the slots when you get it. Then take the third brake light and slide it down towards the bottom of the rear glass. It helps to peel the bottom edge of the light away from the glass and get your fingers under it, palms on the other side and pull down and back. Don't pull straight down, pull towards where the rear glass meets the trunk lid.

Carlsen Palo Alto was ready to charge me 3 hours labor for this shit. smh.

Thanks Vacsimile. Think I could handle it myself? Very little DIY experience.

Also, considering it goes off and on, would just replacing this part possibly not fix my problem?

[bakedziti]

I had a similar issue with an older car of mine. The 3rd light would work, mostly in the mornings, but never in the afternoon. Turned out to be a failing soder point on the LED strip. I replaced the entire light, as it wasn't worth my time to rip it apart to micro soder. Different car, but very similar issue.

[vacsimile]

Carlsen Palo Alto was ready to charge me 3 hours labor for this shit. smh.

Thanks Vacsimile. Think I could handle it myself? Very little DIY experience.

Also, considering it goes off and on, would just replacing this part possibly not fix my problem?

This is such a common problem that I would be surprised if it didn't fix your problem. I can't say for sure, obviously, without even seeing the car.

I don't know if you could do it yourself, that really just depends on you. It's not a difficult job but you do risk damaging the rear glass if you pull the light down wrong. At your own risk.

For reference I charge half an hour for this job.

[Scorpio]

Had same issues over a year ago, out of warranty. I bought new one from GAP, installed it and no issues since

[MDORFER87]

I had the same sporadic third light failure. It's real easy to replace. But after I tore apart the light I replaced, I figured out the solder on the circuit board worked loose. Had I known this I could have fixed it with one touch of the soldering iron. The led's were all fine. Just a bad solder joint. I suspect this is your problem as well.

[misterpepper]

Mine was bad solder joints as well. It was the 2 solder pads holding the pins for the connector -- easy to get to without disassembling anything, just remove the 3rd brake light from the car and the solder pads that are likely bad are visible right next to the connector.

To remove the light from the car you have to lift the headliner out of the groove in the light assembly and then slide the brake light in the direction of the rear license plate.

[grabie]

Any help to remove the third brake light in B8 Avant?

[FastAudiS4]

I just removed mine and the solders looked fine. The problem seemed to happen more often when it was really hot outside. Just applied more solder on the 2 pins and reinstalled. It hasn’t happened in over 2 weeks now. Seems like there just wasn’t enough penetration from the factory. “Cold solder” is what my buddy who helped me said was most likely the issue.