Hope someone can help me with this one....

The number plate bulbs on my superb have stopped working and caused my car to fail its recent MOT. I have removed the units form the boot and found they have corroded quite badly can anyone tell me the best course of action to get them back up and running again.

Many Thanks

Is it the bulbs or the clips that hold the bulb in that have corroded?

The clips corroded on my old polo. A quick going over with a small wire toothbrush, and a bit of WD40 - Good as new.

Nail file or grit paper.

I had this. One of the lugs on the bulb holder had completely corroded away. Cleaned up the contacts in the housing with emery paper and used a small piece of crumpled up cooking foil jammed between the end of the bulb and the housing. Not quite kosher but it worked. And before anyone starts about electrical safety, there is no chance of it short circuiting.

sorry to go a bit aside the topic, but what length are the number plate bulbs? im after some led white ones.

12V 5 W Festoon 37 x 10.5 dia.

rotodiesel.

Cheers for the tips gents.... Glad you bought up about the led`s as I plan to do the same now these have failed.... Any ideas on where to get these from that wont play havoc with the rest of the cars circuits....

Cheers for the tips gents.... Glad you bought up about the led`s as I plan to do the same now these have failed.... Any ideas on where to get these from that wont play havoc with the rest of the cars circuits....

Got mine from halfords, no probs at all with fitting and bulb failure warnings so you will be ok, mine had corroded to point of fail so bought new holders from skoda, iirc they were £16 each or something like that.

Perfect end result... Wd40, wifes nail file and hey presto lights back up and running.... Went to check out LED`s but local halford wanted £14.99.... NO DEAL.... Think i will source some from flea bay... Cheers for the tips fellas...

yep they were expensive from halfords but i was fed up changing bulbs all the time so bit the bullet.

.

Edited 26 October, 201015 yr by rotodiesel

The number plate lamps on the B5.5 are a hopeless detail and qualify for "annual maintenance" as follows:

The body cutouts on the boot lid rust because dear old VAG have used foam to trap the water. Treat edges of metal cutouts annually with Dinitrol wax.

The lamp contacts are a stupid design with twice the number of sliding contacts needed to do the job (compare with GM number plate lamp design). Remove lamp carrier annually and coat all sliding contacts sparingly with vaseline. Lubricate fixing screw threads (don't lose plastic washers) - at least the later screws are stainless - the early ones used to rust in solidly.

Why do they keep producing this rubbish year after year? Skodas may be well screwdrivered in Cz but I don't expect to see so many details on this vehicle which require special maintenance to keep them functional. This vehicle just needs far too much time spent on it to make it reliable. VAG don't give a toss - Toyota next time.

rotodiesel.

The number plate lamps on the B5.5 are a hopeless detail and qualify for "annual maintenance" as follows:

The body cutouts on the boot lid rust because dear old VAG have used foam to trap the water. Treat edges of metal cutouts annually with Dinitrol wax.

That sounds like the design they've been using for 25 years or more....

Totally agree Rotodiesel its the worst design ive ever saw for a numberplate light, its a total water/crud trap.

The number plate lamps on the B5.5 are a hopeless detail and qualify for "annual maintenance" as follows:

The body cutouts on the boot lid rust because dear old VAG have used foam to trap the water. Treat edges of metal cutouts annually with Dinitrol wax.

The lamp contacts are a stupid design with twice the number of sliding contacts needed to do the job (compare with GM number plate lamp design). Remove lamp carrier annually and coat all sliding contacts sparingly with vaseline. Lubricate fixing screw threads (don't lose plastic washers) - at least the later screws are stainless - the early ones used to rust in solidly.

Why do they keep producing this rubbish year after year? Skodas may be well screwdrivered in Cz but I don't expect to see so many details on this vehicle which require special maintenance to keep them functional. This vehicle just needs far too much time spent on it to make it reliable. VAG don't give a toss - Toyota next time.

rotodiesel.

I really do wonder sometimes why you own a Superb.................... :yes:

Good 4 cyl diesel engine.

Galvanised body.

Weight to tow.

Leg room.

Pattern parts availability + excellent OE parts availability from VW branded outlets.

Cheap used buy.

Longevity IF you address the problems - one of them is right there above...

So the real value of this Forum is the identification of the problems and the fixes. Do that, and you've got a vehicle which will run to starship miles, is comfortable and costs beans to run. OK?

rotodiesel.

Good 4 cyl diesel engine.

Galvanised body.

Weight to tow.

Leg room.

Pattern parts availability + excellent OE parts availability from VW branded outlets.

Cheap used buy.

Longevity IF you address the problems - one of them is right there above...

So the real value of this Forum is the identification of the problems and the fixes. Do that, and you've got a vehicle which will run to starship miles, is comfortable and costs beans to run. OK?

rotodiesel.

Points taken Roto but do you really think that there is a car model and marque on the market that is 100% Design fault free? I don't think so............. :no:

You only have to look at Skoda's standings in various survey's to see their slogan of 'Manufacturer's of Happy Driver's' isn't far off................ :yes:

Let's put this in perspective as well, I am not a Skoda nut, would rather be driving something else but my Superb has served me well as you have highlighted above, I just don't see the point in complaining about some issues that we know the fixes for, etc............ :no:

Back on topic now...........apologies to the OP............. :S

Points taken Roto but do you really think that there is a car model and marque on the market that is 100% Design fault free? I don't think so............. :no:

You only have to look at Skoda's standings in various survey's to see their slogan of 'Manufacturer's of Happy Driver's' isn't far off................ :yes:

Let's put this in perspective as well, I am not a Skoda nut, would rather be driving something else but my Superb has served me well as you have highlighted above, I just don't see the point in complaining about some issues that we know the fixes for, etc............ :no:

Back on topic now...........apologies to the OP............. :S

Totally agree Baker!!