My brake light bulb has blown, ive taken it out and its a 4w bulb. But halfrauds are saying it should be a 5w bulb and they havent got any 4w ones. Will a 5w bulb work correctly or do i definitely need a 4w?

If it's a brakelight, you need either a 21w or a 21/5W dual filament, not a 4w or a 5w.

If it's a brakelight, you need either a 21w or a 21/5W dual filament, not a 4w or a 5w.

That's not necessarily the case. I've recently had to change mine and it's the same as the OP's, it's quite an unusual (well I've not seen many anyway) style, it's an offset bayonet and it IS only 4W, which is contrary to what a lot of guides say, and Halfords too obv. It's not mentioned in any of the Octavia spare bulb kits I've seen either.

It's a combined brake/tail light bulb. An R566 iirc.

I bought a couple from ebay here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390268177909&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

(though they arrived today and one bulb has a small crack in it, so need to get on to them about that)

There's a thread about it from a while back, quite a few people were seemingly told they needed the 5W bulb but it didn't fit/work:

Edit: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/137270-octavia-ii-hatch-rear-light-bulb-replacement/page__p__1718732__hl__replacement+tail+brake+light__fromsearch__1#entry1718732

The 5W I did have in my spares kit had a standard diametrically-opposed bayonet setup and so wouldn't even fit in the socket properly anyway.

It's quite possible it'll change by MY anyway, mine's a 2006.

(sorry for all the iterative edits!)

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by BigC

Check your local motorfacts eurocarparts etc for P21/4W as said its a dual filament acts as a side light and brake light best buy two always change in pairs bit like tires.

Are you sure it’s the brake light bulb?

Earlier Octavia's have twin filament bulbs for brake/tail and fog/tail.

Some later models now have single filament bulbs; the brightness is altered by the CANBUS for the different functions.

There are only two single filament 5W bulbs in the Octavia tail light cluster (as shown below) up each side which complete Skoda's "C" shape customary tail light shape...

I've seen plenty of Octavia's with the wrong bulbs in, is it possible a previous owner has fitted the wrong bulb?

As mentioned above the bulb for the brake light will either be a twin filament 21W/4W or single filament 21W.

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by silver1011

I had the same problem at my local Halfords-walked in with the old bulb & was approached and asked if I needed help. I had the old stop & tail bulb in my hand, and said 'I want one of these stop & tail light bulbs please'

'What car is it for?' I was asked.

'An Octavia vRS, 2009' I told him.

Cue an arguement: 'This is what you need, it says so in the book'......

'I've just taken the farkin bulb out of the car mate, this is what I'm lookin for'

'It won't work!'

'Well this one did until it blew'

'But the book clearly shows this one'

'Tell you what, off you pi55 and I'll find it myself........'

Which I did.

They do keep them........

So let me get this right there are in total incl indicator and reverse bulb a total of 6 bulbs in one light cluster? i thought it was 4?

I had these same same problems recently. It turns out i was being advised that i needed the wrong bulb. After looking on the handbook i realised that i needed the P21/4W NOT 5W. The Halfords book was wrong

So let me get this right there are in total incl indicator and reverse bulb a total of 6 bulbs in one light cluster? i thought it was 4?

Yes, 6 bulbs in each cluster...

1x Brake/Tail

2x Tail

1x Fog/Tail

1x Indicator

1x Reverse

ok thanks for thi info, it was defo the brake bulb as it said so on the dash when it blew.

Ive swapped it with the fog light bulb as its the same one, a 21/4W with a silly slight off centre pin

I'll get looking on fleabay for one as my local halfords dont have it!

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by mole

There is a reason for the offset on the bayonet fitting, its to stop you fitting 5W instead of 4W...

can someone give me a good reason not to buy these??

10 bulbs for £3 is far to good to be true isnt it!!?!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Box-10-x-12v-21-4w-Rear-Fog-Tail-Bulbs-566-932-/290521963858?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43a4755d52

For the sake of £3.25 for 10 I'd say it's worth a shot!

Numerous cars use R566 (P21/4W) including VAG (obviously), Citroens, Discovery, etc etc. I'd be very surprised if Halfords don't stock them...

Yes, 6 bulbs in each cluster...

1x Brake/Tail

2x Tail

1x Fog/Tail

1x Indicator

1x Reverse

Ok so when i took out the bulb holder few weeks back i had the brake/tail indicator reverse and fog light is there another part to it with the extra 2 bulbs?

You can see them dangling here...

They are not part of the main bulb holder...

ahhh right fantastic Silver1011 i didn't know that! so its just 501/w5w bulbs by the looks of it.

Halfrauds do stock them as I got mine from there. As mentioned they are listed as 566 bulbs.

My brake light bulb has blown, ive taken it out and its a 4w bulb. But halfrauds are saying it should be a 5w bulb and they havent got any 4w ones. Will a 5w bulb work correctly or do i definitely need a 4w?

I have a question ....Im know its a bit off topic from the current discussions but ........

-I don't have maxi-dot ....i have a black and white screen on my FL octavia ..... i wanted to know that if i have a bulb failure is there any symbol that will light up in the instrument cluster ????

p.s.-i think I noticed a symbol featuring a bulb on the instrument cluster !

yeah a light came on the dash that looks like a bulb with a "!" in the middle of it.

The maxi dot just tells you what exact bulb has failed. save lazy people like me getting out and checking!

Halfrauds do stock them as I got mine from there. As mentioned they are listed as 566 bulbs.

Agreed. I got my last ones from my local store.

Moral of the story is really not to trust the Halfords book! I've seen it wrong that many times... and the decent in-store staff know not to trust it either

EDIT: For anyone needing one, it's this you need: http://tinyurl.com/5v6ool9

Listed as an HBU566 in Halfords speak (you should see 566 written on the packaging, usually top-right corner).

Description is: 'Halfords HBU566 21/4W Bulb Single' and if you're still not sure the internal Cat code should be written on the price tag for the rack they're hanging from: '600361-0'

So just print this thread off if you're going down to get one, and you'll be fine

Edited 15 February, 201115 yr by Wardy

its alright, bought 10 off ebay for £3!

Just in case someone else needs one....

There is a reason for the offset on the bayonet fitting, its to stop you fitting 5W instead of 4W...

Didn't stop me from doing so, but they didn't light up very bright

Local motor factors had mine, tell halfrauds to get lost like i did. I only found out when i transposed there shop fitment guidance on quick reaction bulbs.

Only to have to go back in and tell them the book was bascially a liar.