How to change 3rd brake light without removing the spoiler!

[Jaywoo-GTI]

I did mine last weekend without taking the spoiler off, Was a bit brutal and completely broke the old brake light.

First thing i did was use a trim tool to prize the brake light down away from the spoiler after a couple of cracking noises it fell out leaving the 2 captive nuts and screw to be slid out of the spoiler.
 
Then unplug the light and plug the new one in, Push the grommet back into the hole and job done for the wiring.

Now take some double sided trim tape an put 2 little pieces on the rear of the brake light, Push the remaining wiring into the spoiler and locate the brake light into position till you here it click into place. the brake light will hold in anyway on the clip but the trim tape is just to make sure.

Total price £34.79 and half an hours easy work.

Not bad compared to VW quote of around £300.


Part number is 1K6 945 097F (changed from revision E to F now) @ £34.79.

[Andy]

thats good to know,if ever i need to replace mine,i didn't fancy having to rip the spoiler of to do it

[bennylenny88]

nice write up but pics wouldve been even better :)

[Jaywoo-GTI]

Yeah was going to get some photos but my camera needed charging and my phone takes rubbish pictures, Even so it a really easy job the is pretty self expiatory,

I mentioned doing it when i had my car serviced and even the bloke in sales said have a go at doing it myself because of how big of job it is to do at the dealers.

[celica]

fancy doing mine, as mine has condensation and a couple of LEDs not working ;-(

[Jaywoo-GTI]

Not really cus its not a nice noise having to break the old unit out. but if it save you over £250 im sure it worth havin a go yourself like i did.

[Top Cat]

But wont it just fill up with water again after a while. 

[veedub18]

But wont it just fill up with water again after a while. 

I had mine done under warranty TC, and its been perfectly dry since, I think the newer type have a lot better waterproofing. 

[Top Cat]

But wont it just fill up with water again after a while. 

I had mine done under warranty TC, and its been perfectly dry since, I think the newer type have a lot better waterproofing. 

But correct me if i am wrong, he has not fixed the bit where the water is entering he has only replaced the bit where the water collects 

[SteveP]

^^^ Correct Mr Cat, I can't see it being any better as this method doesn't allow you to be able to screw the new unit back on to the spoiler which is part of making it water proof 

[stealthwolf]

I thought the water ingressed only from the rear washer jet, which can be turned to point at the 2 o'clock position to stop this from happening?

[ub7rm]

^^That was my understanding and indeed what I have witnessed.  After scooshing my rear screen I went out and water was merrily dripping out of the light 

The light unit itself should be fully waterproof and not be relying on any seal against the spoiler - this is the crux of the bad design IMO.  Turning the jet to 2 O'clock should mitigate nicely against this happening in the first place.

Clearly the OEM method if installation / repair doesn't work at all as so many of us have this issue.  At least with the Jaywoo method if the unit does fail again it should be a lot easier to repair...again 

[Top Cat]

There are quite a few people on here who dont even use the rear wash jet and still have a light full of water. My guess is if it was that easy to fix then VW would have been doing it a long time ago, rather than have lots of costly warrenty claims to sort out. 

[ub7rm]

I've heard of a couple of people who have taken their cars in to VW and they were repaired using Jay's method - The original light unit may not have been sealed against water but the new part maybe is?  Or maybe they just wanted to take a short cut?  Dunno - just speculating.

Anyway £400 vs £40... I know which I'll be giving a go first  .  Apart from that, the idea of cheese wiring my spoiler off and getting them to colour match a new one and refit it properly fills me with dread 

[Top Cat]

I've heard of a couple of people who have taken their cars in to VW and they were repaired using Jay's method - The original light unit may not have been sealed against water but the new part maybe is?  Or maybe they just wanted to take a short cut?  Dunno - just speculating.

Anyway £400 vs £40... I know which I'll be giving a go first  .  Apart from that, the idea of cheese wiring my spoiler off and getting them to colour match a new one and refit it properly fills me with dread 

Yep i agree  totally with all of the above, worth a try me thinks.