Ok Sorry for the bad stab at humor.

The left taillight on my Audi went out recently, and everytime I
started the car the warning came on the panel in the dash. Within a
few days the dash warning panel starting beeping twice, indicating
that my right rear brakelight was now also out. Then within a day or
two the left indicator signal. Interestingly the left indicator light
warning started and then stopped. When the indicator warning came
on,it was actually not working, and the indcator would flash at double
speed.

Took it to Audi, by which time the indicator light was now wroking,
the other two not. They explained afterwards that it was just bulbs
and I was on my way. 10 days later, taillight warning comes and goes.
Then right rear brake light comes on and stays on. Taillight now
working. A week later the left indicator light starts doing its thing
again. So I am back to a non working right brake light and a sometimes
working left indicator light. This does not sound like a bulb problem.

I have it booked in for repair this coming weekend, but want to be
able to at least sound as if I know where the problem could be before
I let them just "replace bulbs " again. I find that most auto dealers
are quite happy to have a car under warranty back again and again and
I don't have the time or the patience to go through this again.

Any ideas?
Thanks!!

 

Sounds like you have an intermittent short in the tail light wiring harness. I'm
not sure where it is routed but any place that can cause flex is likely but on
an A4 I can't think where that would be.

Tony
'98.5 A4 1.8tq
'91 100q

muk wrote:
> Ok Sorry for the bad stab at humor.
>
> The left taillight on my Audi went out recently, and everytime I
> started the car the warning came on the panel in the dash. Within a
> few days the dash warning panel starting beeping twice, indicating
> that my right rear brakelight was now also out. Then within a day or
> two the left indicator signal. Interestingly the left indicator light
> warning started and then stopped. When the indicator warning came
> on,it was actually not working, and the indcator would flash at double
> speed.
>
> Took it to Audi, by which time the indicator light was now wroking,
> the other two not. They explained afterwards that it was just bulbs
> and I was on my way. 10 days later, taillight warning comes and goes.
> Then right rear brake light comes on and stays on. Taillight now
> working. A week later the left indicator light starts doing its thing
> again. So I am back to a non working right brake light and a sometimes
> working left indicator light. This does not sound like a bulb problem.
>
> I have it booked in for repair this coming weekend, but want to be
> able to at least sound as if I know where the problem could be before
> I let them just "replace bulbs " again. I find that most auto dealers
> are quite happy to have a car under warranty back again and again and
> I don't have the time or the patience to go through this again.
>
> Any ideas?
> Thanks!!

 

Sounds like you have an intermittent short in the tail light wiring harness. I'm
not sure where it is routed but any place that can cause flex is likely but on
an A4 I can't think where that would be.

Tony
'98.5 A4 1.8tq
'91 100q

muk wrote:
> Ok Sorry for the bad stab at humor.
>
> The left taillight on my Audi went out recently, and everytime I
> started the car the warning came on the panel in the dash. Within a
> few days the dash warning panel starting beeping twice, indicating
> that my right rear brakelight was now also out. Then within a day or
> two the left indicator signal. Interestingly the left indicator light
> warning started and then stopped. When the indicator warning came
> on,it was actually not working, and the indcator would flash at double
> speed.
>
> Took it to Audi, by which time the indicator light was now wroking,
> the other two not. They explained afterwards that it was just bulbs
> and I was on my way. 10 days later, taillight warning comes and goes.
> Then right rear brake light comes on and stays on. Taillight now
> working. A week later the left indicator light starts doing its thing
> again. So I am back to a non working right brake light and a sometimes
> working left indicator light. This does not sound like a bulb problem.
>
> I have it booked in for repair this coming weekend, but want to be
> able to at least sound as if I know where the problem could be before
> I let them just "replace bulbs " again. I find that most auto dealers
> are quite happy to have a car under warranty back again and again and
> I don't have the time or the patience to go through this again.
>
> Any ideas?
> Thanks!!

 

Sounds like you have an intermittent short in the tail light wiring harness. I'm
not sure where it is routed but any place that can cause flex is likely but on
an A4 I can't think where that would be.

Tony
'98.5 A4 1.8tq
'91 100q

muk wrote:
> Ok Sorry for the bad stab at humor.
>
> The left taillight on my Audi went out recently, and everytime I
> started the car the warning came on the panel in the dash. Within a
> few days the dash warning panel starting beeping twice, indicating
> that my right rear brakelight was now also out. Then within a day or
> two the left indicator signal. Interestingly the left indicator light
> warning started and then stopped. When the indicator warning came
> on,it was actually not working, and the indcator would flash at double
> speed.
>
> Took it to Audi, by which time the indicator light was now wroking,
> the other two not. They explained afterwards that it was just bulbs
> and I was on my way. 10 days later, taillight warning comes and goes.
> Then right rear brake light comes on and stays on. Taillight now
> working. A week later the left indicator light starts doing its thing
> again. So I am back to a non working right brake light and a sometimes
> working left indicator light. This does not sound like a bulb problem.
>
> I have it booked in for repair this coming weekend, but want to be
> able to at least sound as if I know where the problem could be before
> I let them just "replace bulbs " again. I find that most auto dealers
> are quite happy to have a car under warranty back again and again and
> I don't have the time or the patience to go through this again.
>
> Any ideas?
> Thanks!!

 

Pull the suspect bulbs and have a close look at the filaments. I have had
situations where the filament broke but then "reconnected" itself for a
while with the vehicle motion..
Gives the symptoms you describe.
Rgds
Alec

 

Pull the suspect bulbs and have a close look at the filaments. I have had
situations where the filament broke but then "reconnected" itself for a
while with the vehicle motion..
Gives the symptoms you describe.
Rgds
Alec

 

Pull the suspect bulbs and have a close look at the filaments. I have had
situations where the filament broke but then "reconnected" itself for a
while with the vehicle motion..
Gives the symptoms you describe.
Rgds
Alec

 

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 14:49:31 GMT, muk <mukhp@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

thanks for the replies.

i think the wiring harness explanantion could be one to assess.

if this was a faulty bulb, why would these lights be fine for 2/12
years then go out in this fashion, the bulbs replaced and then go out
in exactly the same fashion 2-3 weeks later?

by the way, after dealing with audi this past week, i am ready to
change to a different make of car. their service is absolutely awful.

thanks again.

 

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 14:49:31 GMT, muk <mukhp@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

thanks for the replies.

i think the wiring harness explanantion could be one to assess.

if this was a faulty bulb, why would these lights be fine for 2/12
years then go out in this fashion, the bulbs replaced and then go out
in exactly the same fashion 2-3 weeks later?

by the way, after dealing with audi this past week, i am ready to
change to a different make of car. their service is absolutely awful.

thanks again.

 

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 14:49:31 GMT, muk <mukhp@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote:

thanks for the replies.

i think the wiring harness explanantion could be one to assess.

if this was a faulty bulb, why would these lights be fine for 2/12
years then go out in this fashion, the bulbs replaced and then go out
in exactly the same fashion 2-3 weeks later?

by the way, after dealing with audi this past week, i am ready to
change to a different make of car. their service is absolutely awful.

thanks again.