Just a quick post (I've already used the 'search' facility!) to ask

My brother has a 2004 vRS and as I followed him the other day saw that although the high-level brake light was working, the lower pair weren't.

A quick check in the boot revealed no (obvious) water ingress or shorting.

So, would it likely be the brake light switch in the brake pedal (excuse my ignorance, I'm sure someone will explain why the upper light works and the lower pair dont) or is there a connection in the n/s boot area that might need cleaning up?

Be gentle with me; I'm disabled so even bending over into the boot can be beat-impossible!

Did you check bulbs and fuses?

Bulbs appear done but I will double check.

I've looked at the fuses but I'm confused by the lack of help in the owner book etc

Any idea which fuse is the one for the brake lights?

Fuse 13 on the interior panel, 10A.

VAG brake light switches are made of chocolate, £10 from the main dealer. The reason the boot light still works is that its a row of LEDs, the tail light bulbs are the filament type which are less robust and when the switch becomes noisy they blow. A faulty switch usually throws up a code too as the ecu uses braking for some of its parameters.

My 3rd brake light isn't LED, they are 286 filament bulbs

My 3rd brake light isn't LED, they are 286 filament bulbs

 

I'm sure my estate was LED :think:  Maybe not then

Bulbs and brake pedal switch replaced by little brother, all now working.

Strangely, just changing the bulbs or the switch didn't cure it, but both changed = ????

Thanks for the help on his behalf!!!