I have a single bulb (LED?) out in my high level brake light on a 2008 estate.

Searched the forum but can't find a solution.

So can I replace the LED, if so how to I get the thing out or is it a "sealed unit" like the side repeater I've just replaced at £ 40.

It's a sealed unit I'm afraid.

Complete new unit required.

I guess you could attempt to open it and replace the LED, it depends how good you are with a heat gun and soldering iron!

For £20 though it's hardly worth the effort...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/06-SKODA-OCTAVIA-EST-MK2-1-9-TDI-TAILGATE-BRAKE-LIGHT-WASHER-1Z9945097A-/130763198139?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e72180ebb

Or £36.00 for a brand new one delivered to your door...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-04-high-level-brake-light-unit-1Z9945097C-/130744218177?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e70f67241

The worst bit is removing the trim inside the boot lid to access it.

It's a mare to get off without breaking the tabs/clips.

Thanks silver

I'd seen the ebay replacement and also ebay LEDs but as said, safer for a new unit. During my Briskoda search I found lots of these units letting in water!

Looks like ebaying for a new unit for a good price.

Would this be an MOT failure?

Edited 16 September, 201213 yr by Web Ferret

Mine condensated up on the estate.

It was swapped out under warranty in the dealers car park so I was able to stand with him and watch. This was when I noticed how tough it was to get the boot trim off.

I don't think it is an MOT failure. There was a recent thread on here where someone quoted some percentages for the number of 'same function' bulbs that needed to be working to pass. The Octavia has four tail / night lights in each cluster and it was discussed that having one of these not working wouldn't constitute a failure. Not sure how accurate this is!

I'd have to change the LED brake light as it would bug me but would fully understand those who chose not to bother - especially if it isn't an MOT failure.

I got an advisory on last MOT due to an LED out in the high level break light but tester said no fail until less than 50% of the LED's illuminate.

I got an advisory on last MOT due to an LED out in the high level break light but tester said no fail until less than 50% of the LED's illuminate.

Thanks for that. No immediate need to throw some ££ at another bust Skoda LED.

It is nattering me though.

Understand it's only £20+, but a new led is about 70p if you've got the skill.

Edited 17 September, 201213 yr by blackspaven

I would try upgrade the whole lot to brighter leds but thats just me, try fixing it first

Hi. I've just been advised that my High Level Brake Light isn't working at all, and was handed an MOT Certificate at the same time. At home, I confirmed their observation, and then tapped my kuckles on the top of the housing, and an incomplete row of LEDs turned on. Tapped it again, and they went off, then on again, dimly. So I suspect a dodgy supply or earth, and my inclination is towards the latter.

Having read how easily the trim clips can be broken, but also how vague the Haynes manual is for the Octy II, I'm wondering where the best practical assistance is for this task, which should be trivial. Any advice?

By the way, someone mentioned replacing individual LEDs. I'd be up for that, but it would be nice to know the specific part numbers before embarking on the job.

Thanks,

Andy

I repaired my high level brake light last year. The lens had become loose, and upon examination it came off in my hand. There had been a bit of water ingress, but I cleaned it up and epoxyed the lens back into position. 

 

It worked fine until recently when 2 LED's became dim. I thought about repairing it, but I'm going to replace it. The underling problem with these high level brake lights is water ingress, so even if you fix it, the chances are in 6 months or so, you'll have to replace it anyway. 

 

Personally I think high level brake lights with LEDs/bulbs blown really look terrible, so mines on order as we speak!

Online manual

http://skoda.workshop-manuals.com/octavia-mk2/index.php?id=3092

Not the easiest thing to navigate though

Online manual

http://skoda.workshop-manuals.com/octavia-mk2/index.php?id=3092

Not the easiest thing to navigate though

 

Ah, thanks. A useful link - now bookmarked - so long as "Disassembly wedge -3409-" isn't too intricate. A bit of a challenge, just to change a light, but an inconsiderate rear-end shunt doesn't appeal either. Much more informative than the Haynes manual for my Mk1 Octavia was, as I recall when I wanted to remove a door panel.

My new high level brake light arrived, and I fitted it today. Just for the record, I thought I'd share my experience.

 

To change the high level light on the estate (hatch is probably the same), all the plastic trim on the inside of the tailgate has to come off. First you remove the torx screw in the hole next to the pull down handle. Then you can lever the bottom trim panel off (I used a large flat screwdriver). It's best to start at the corners and work your way around. All the trim clips are the metal spring type.

 

With the bottom trim panel off, you will see a screw at each side of the top trim panel. Undo these, and the top trim panel then levers off the same as the bottom panel. You will then see the back of the light fitting. It is held on with 3 plastic bolts (13mm IIRC) and plastic spring tab. Undo the bolts, squeeze the tab and push the light fitting to dislodge it from the tailgate. Close the boot and extract the light from the outside. You can then disconnect the multiplug and washer pipe (this was actually quite hard to get off) from the rear of the light fitting and you can completely remove the old light.

 

Before fitting the new light, I noticed the aperture in the tailgate had quite a bit of algae and grime on it. So I cleaned all this off so the new light would create a good seal. Fitting the light was the reversal of removal. Care does need to be taken when tightening up the bolts, as the studs on the light fitting are plastic and would break very easily if overtightened. I used a socket on an extension bar and just tightened them by hand without using the ratchet wrench, and I got them more than tight enough. You only need it tighten it enough to compress the seal on the fitting to the tailgate.

 

Refitting the trim and screws is fairly straight forward, although you do need to ensure the spring clips are aligned with the holes before bashing the trim back on. I didn't so this when refitting the bottom trim panel and broke 2 clips!

 

It sounds like a lot of faffing, but in reality I did the whole job in about 45 minutes. The new light looks so much better than the old one which by comparison was very faded and clouded. It also gave me good practice for when the rear wiper motor fails, as you need to remove the bottom trim panel to replace that!     

Edited 27 September, 201312 yr by booke23

What a PITAS this job sounds! I have four LEDs out on my Scout & figured it's time to change it. My old A6 had two crews to undo and that was it...sounds like I might need a bit longer this time. Can't seem to find any new ones on eBay, so I'm guessing it's a trip to the dealer?

During a recent Dealer 'Vehicle Health Check' after the Haldex Oil Change, it was noted I had one LED out on the 3rd Brake Light and was quoted £40 to replace the unit. Not sure what the labour cost would be.

During a recent Dealer 'Vehicle Health Check' after the Haldex Oil Change, it was noted I had one LED out on the 3rd Brake Light and was quoted £40 to replace the unit. Not sure what the labour cost would be.

I would speak to parts yourself and get a price. I'm sure it's a job you could do.

Sent from my Galaxy S5 using Tapatalk

What a PITAS this job sounds! I have four LEDs out on my Scout & figured it's time to change it. My old A6 had two crews to undo and that was it...sounds like I might need a bit longer this time. Can't seem to find any new ones on eBay, so I'm guessing it's a trip to the dealer?

 

It will be a trip to the dealer.....I paid around £35 for it 2 years ago. It's not as bad as it sounds! There is actually only 3 torx screws to undo to get all the inner tailgate trim off. 

 

You want to have a go at replacing the antenna on the roof........now that is fiddly! 

It will be a trip to the dealer.....I paid around £35 for it 2 years ago. It's not as bad as it sounds! There is actually only 3 torx screws to undo to get all the inner tailgate trim off. 

 

You want to have a go at replacing the antenna on the roof........now that is fiddly!

As it happens....

Took my wife's XC90 up to Heathrow the other day. I get really patchy reception on certain parts of the journey in my Scout, but was absolutely fine in the Volvo.

I did mine last month. Was £35 ish from Skoda and the trim isn't that difficult, just make sure you get something in behind the clips. 30minute job I reckon

As it happens....

Took my wife's XC90 up to Heathrow the other day. I get really patchy reception on certain parts of the journey in my Scout, but was absolutely fine in the Volvo.

 

Unfortunately it's a common fault on the Octavia. I replaced my aerial base nearly 4 years ago and just recently the replacement has started to sometimes loose reception. The base of the antenna has a powered amp built in and sooner or later water ingress causes it to fail. 

On 27/09/2013 at 22:25, booke23 said:

My new high level brake light arrived, and I fitted it today. Just for the record, I thought I'd share my experience.

 

To change the high level light on the estate (hatch is probably the same), all the plastic trim on the inside of the tailgate has to come off. First you remove the torx screw in the hole next to the pull down handle. Then you can lever the bottom trim panel off (I used a large flat screwdriver). It's best to start at the corners and work your way around. All the trim clips are the metal spring type.

 

With the bottom trim panel off, you will see a screw at each side of the top trim panel. Undo these, and the top trim panel then levers off the same as the bottom panel. You will then see the back of the light fitting. It is held on with 3 plastic bolts (13mm IIRC) and plastic spring tab. Undo the bolts, squeeze the tab and push the light fitting to dislodge it from the tailgate. Close the boot and extract the light from the outside. You can then disconnect the multiplug and washer pipe (this was actually quite hard to get off) from the rear of the light fitting and you can completely remove the old light.

 

Before fitting the new light, I noticed the aperture in the tailgate had quite a bit of algae and grime on it. So I cleaned all this off so the new light would create a good seal. Fitting the light was the reversal of removal. Care does need to be taken when tightening up the bolts, as the studs on the light fitting are plastic and would break very easily if overtightened. I used a socket on an extension bar and just tightened them by hand without using the ratchet wrench, and I got them more than tight enough. You only need it tighten it enough to compress the seal on the fitting to the tailgate.

 

Refitting the trim and screws is fairly straight forward, although you do need to ensure the spring clips are aligned with the holes before bashing the trim back on. I didn't so this when refitting the bottom trim panel and broke 2 clips!

 

It sounds like a lot of faffing, but in reality I did the whole job in about 45 minutes. The new light looks so much better than the old one which by comparison was very faded and clouded. It also gave me good practice for when the rear wiper motor fails, as you need to remove the bottom trim panel to replace that!     

Excellent instructions! Just replaced mine in under 30mins and no trim clips broken! 

10 hours ago, Pedro75 said:

Excellent instructions! Just replaced mine in under 30mins and no trim clips broken! 

 

I'm very please the instructions were of use to you!