Hi, I just noticed th door card light had stopped working on my drivers side. So took a look at the bulb and it looked ok so quickly out it in one of the over head reading lights (same type of bulb) and it worked. I then transferred the door card bulb holder to the other side which is working and guess what it worked with the original bulb!!!! So what that tells me is its not the bulb or the fixing this brings me to the wiring? I then noticed that the puddle light under the wing  mirror is not working but the wing mirror motor is still working!!

 

So where do I start? Is it a case of door card off and there is some common wiring that is the issue?

Had you had the door open for a while with the engine off when it happened?  I found my door card light was turned off to save battery after a while and also thought it was a bulb issue.  It resets after a while and works again, perhaps after locking and unlocking the car, but not quite sure.

 

Adam

Its been going on for a few days possibly weeks

Ok sounds like wiring then.  First place to check is if there are any broken wires in the grommet by the door hinge.

Yeah I thought you may say that I will start having a poke about!!

 

I find it interesting that the wing mirror motor is still working

There are different wires for different functions so it's still possible.

A common complaint on the Octavia.

 

The wires between the wing and the door become brittle with age and break.

 

With the drivers door open you'll see a flexible rubber hose inbetween the hinges.

 

Prize this off and you should hopefully see one or more damaged wires.

 

A soldering iron and some heat shrink should do the job!

 

 

This is a MkI but it is similar to the MkII in terms of location and appearance...

 

Ok I have managed to pull rubber hose off but cant see any split or broken wires. I was kinda hopping I would do as this would be an easy fix.

 

I have attached some pictures and a video of my findings. Whats the next place to look I guess door card off??

Edited 27 October, 201510 yr by MRB007

Looks like there has been a repair previously (the tape). I would be tempted to check that still ok first and also look at the other end of the grommet. The video is private so couldn't view that.

Assuming that was ok, the next step would be to try and locate a wiring diagram for the door module (Haynes manual or web), remove the door card and check wiring continuity with a multi meter to the two lamps.

I know what you mean about the tape and I pulled that off and it all looked ok. I have changed the video settings and the tape had been removed for the video.

 

Wiring diagram and multi meter not really what I wanted to here as I have never done that before!

Yes the video suggests nothing wrong with the wiring in the grommet. I reckon you are looking at door card off but suggest you first try a vcds scan to see if it offers some more info.

Hmmm, that's annoying.

 

The symptoms do very much point to an isolated break in a wire somewhere.

 

As mentioned I'd now be looking to remove the door card, not ideal but it does seem to be the next logical step.

 

I assume plugging the connectors back in after the video didn't change anything? 

If the weather is dry today I will take the door card off and have a good look about!!

Logic would tell me that where the door card light and puddle light wiring meet up this will be where the break should be! However knowing my luck both problems will be in a different area.

I will report back with my findings

Ok door card ha come off and I cant see anything that sticks out as an issue!! I have created a new video shown my findings in more detail.

 

On a slightly separate note I do fin it interesting that my drivers door card light is a W5W fitting and my passenger is a Festoon.

 

Once you have seen the video let me know your thoughts thanks!!

Silly question, but do the interior lights come on when set to auto, and the suspect door is open? You've probably already checked, but could it be a sticky door switch?

Not near my car to check, but have had them go bad on other cars...

Have you checked the bulb in the puddle lamp? As if that is separately faulty then the above suggestion is a good one. The mirror wiring is also easily accessed now the door card is off and the bulb is visible once you take the mirror cap off.

Silly question, but do the interior lights come on when set to auto, and the suspect door is open? You've probably already checked, but could it be a sticky door switch?

Not near my car to check, but have had them go bad on other cars...

 

That was on my list and it all works fine

 

 

Have you checked the bulb in the puddle lamp? As if that is separately faulty then the above suggestion is a good one. The mirror wiring is also easily accessed now the door card is off and the bulb is visible once you take the mirror cap off.

 

Yep cheeked the bulb and it works on the other side. I don’t think I need to take the mirror cap off as I can see the wiring for the puddle bulb when I take the mirror glass out and it all looks ok. What do you think about my idea for the part attached to the window motor? Also any idea why my passenger door card light is festoon and the drivers is W5W, is this normal?

It does sound like someone has fiddled there. It should be a festoon I believe and a w5w needs the holder which isnt there on mine (albeit a pre FL). The puddle lamp and door card light are as you've seen both fed from different terminals on the door module. While this might suggest the module, it's an expensive part so now is the time to test voltages at each light and wiring continuity. Also did I see a tape fix near the bulb holder for the door light?

It does sound like someone has fiddled there. It should be a festoon I believe and a w5w needs the holder which isnt there on mine (albeit a pre FL). The puddle lamp and door card light are as you've seen both fed from different terminals on the door module. While this might suggest the module, it's an expensive part so now is the time to test voltages at each light and wiring continuity. Also did I see a tape fix near the bulb holder for the door light?

 

Yep time for me to get the multi meter out not that I own one but I will find on and learn what to do.

Easy enough and just a tenner or so from Maplins will get one that does the trick.

First test for voltage across the bulb terminals when each lamp should be lit and if that fails then continuity (ie zero resistance) of each wire to each bulb back to the relevant terminal block on the module.

My guess is a possible dodgy earth connection which affects both lamps but that is purely a guess. Do the heaters on the mirror definitely work?

First test for voltage across the bulb terminals when each lamp should be lit and if that fails then continuity (ie zero resistance) of each wire to each bulb back to the relevant terminal block on the module.

 

 

Before making a continuity check on the wiring, disconnect the wiring at the supply end (unplug the cable).

Continuity testers can destroy the output transistors in a control module. 

The risk is small but not unknown and depends on the particular multi-meter, so good general practice to disconnect the cable first.

Good point but you have to disconnect the terminal blocks to do it anyway.

Slightly connected ...Is it easy to cahnge the bulbs to led in the wing mirror puddle light?

Yes it is. Just remove the glass and it should be obvious. It's not monitored by the dash but does throw an error on VCDS unless you get error canceller bulbs.

Edited 17 November, 201510 yr by adamal

Had the same trouble,got all sorts of mad quotes for replacement wing mirrors and puddle lights, driver door stopped responding to the key fob ,electric mirror stopped and the driver side wing mirror puddle light stopped too, came to this forum and saw a suggestion to check the wiring between the car body and the drivers side door, one red and black wire was broken, reattached it with a tiny block connector and and all 3 issues were resolved, an easy fix and thanks to this forum an inexpensive one, My car is A 2005 Skoda Octavia 1.4 hatchback