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2006 Octavia Estate Tail lights dim


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Hi All,

 

I have a weird problem with my 06 Estate which is worrying me slightly as I fear it could be expensive. I noticed recently that my tail lights were quite dim, but seen as it passed its MOT only 3 months ago I assumed all was fine. I changed the bulbs and still no luck, when braking they are nice and bright but when they are just on normally I am getting flashed by other cars constantly.

When side lights are on the Top bulb is lit up but super dim and 2 small side bulbs are on but again super dim.

When braking the top one lights up amazingly, and when switching between side lights and full beam the top bulb brightens up for a split second before going back to dim. Whats weird as well is my bottom fog bulb works when I switch on fog lights but only the Right hand side one, someone said that when side lights are on the fogs should be on but just not as bright as actually turning fog on.

 

Can anyone offer any advice?

 

Thanks

 

hangell

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You do have a problem somewhere.

 

The MkII Octavia (both estate and hatch) creates a 'C' shape with the rear tail (night) lights.

 

The top of the 'C' is a brake/tail function (21W/4W) bulb (hatchback) and a single filament 21W bulb (estate).

 

On the estate model the cars electronic brain (CANBUS) alters the voltage to the single filament bulb depending on the output required, hence the single filament bulb can operate both tail and brake light functions.

 

Down the sides of the 'C' you have 2x W3W bulbs, these operate as tail lights only.

 

The lowest part of the 'C' is a mirror of the top, except that the brake is replaced by the fog light function.

 

Note that as standard only one fog light works, the offside. This is how they are set-up from the factory for the UK market, although it is possible to code the car to use both if desired.

 

In terms of sorting your issue then I'd start with checking the bulbs, you say you've already tried replacing them, are you sure that they are 21W? If on the hatchback for example you replace the relatively rare 21W/4W bulb with the more common 21W/5W bulb this can cause several issues. Could it be a previous owner used the incorrect bulbs?

 

Second check would be a bad or poor earth, this can often cause issues with brightness. Are the bulb holders intact. Is the issue on both sides or just one?

 

Finally the bulb brightness can be altered by recoding the CANBUS, has it been like this since you owned the car or has this fault occurred recently?

 

For me the biggest tell-tale is the fact that the rear tail lights briefly go back to normal brightness when you flick from side lights to dipped headlights - a clear indication of an electrical fault somewhere, one which as you suspect could be quite difficult to find.

 

Do you have any automotive electrical specialists near you?

 

Hatchback:

 

SkodaOctaviaRearLightBulbs.jpg

 

RearLightCluster.jpg

 

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Thanks for the reply, I forgot to mention I also replaced 2 of the W3W bulbs on the left but they are still as dim as before. I have definitely replaced single filament bulbs with single filament after a quick google that was the first thing I checked. The problem is on both sides and the fog light only ever comes on if fogs are switched on it never comes on as a tail light. I guess the next step is dropping it into an auto electrical place to get it properly checked out is it? Anything I can check myself prior to taking it in as I have a wedding coming up and can't really afford a repair bill right now? I don't know of an auto electrical specialist nearby I'll ask in work for any recommendations.

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If the lower part of the 'C' is not working in tail light mode and only in fog light mode then this to me points even more to an issue with the ground or earth.

 

I'd be taking out the bulb holder and checking all the contacts together with the electrical loom connector that clips into the back of them too.

 

Give everything a good wiggle to see if things improve temporarily.

 

Whilst in there check for moisture. The Octavia is well documented to leak, whether it be the feed to the rear wash wipe, the high level brake light, the foam seals between the rear light clusters and the body or the boot seal / lock mechanism. There is a control module behind the carpet on the passenger side (where the CD multi-changer would sit), if this gets wet all hell can break loose.

 

Any water / screen wash sitting in the spare wheel well?

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A thought that also occurs to me is whether a module has previously been replaced with one that is configured for a different VAG model. A check with VCDS would also be a good check to see what might be going on.

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  • 3 months later...

Silver you really know your stuff

Could you help me please

I want to go on a long drive tomorrow but I have issue with my tail lights

Are you able to view my post please?

I can repost on here

I appreciate ur wisdom and time

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  • 1 year later...
On 09/12/2015 at 14:26, silver1011 said:

If the lower part of the 'C' is not working in tail light mode and only in fog light mode then this to me points even more to an issue with the ground or earth.

 

I'd be taking out the bulb holder and checking all the contacts together with the electrical loom connector that clips into the back of them too.

 

Give everything a good wiggle to see if things improve temporarily.

 

Whilst in there check for moisture. The Octavia is well documented to leak, whether it be the feed to the rear wash wipe, the high level brake light, the foam seals between the rear light clusters and the body or the boot seal / lock mechanism. There is a control module behind the carpet on the passenger side (where the CD multi-changer would sit), if this gets wet all hell can break loose.

 

Any water / screen wash sitting in the spare wheel well?

 I am having the NS Rear light trouble with my VRs, I suspect a bad earth at the moment. i just wanted to clarify your quote, "There is a control module behind the carpet on the passenger side (where the CD multi-changer would sit), if this gets wet all hell can break loose." My CD multi changer is in the boot just behind the NSR light, is this where you mean?

Thanks in anticipation, John

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Yes, you have it right, passenger / near side (NS) versus drivers / off side (OS), for UK / right-hand drive cars at least.

 

Here are some pictures to show the location of the connectors and the weak areas of the rear washer supply pipes...

 

post-60864-0-79450400-1355934253.thumb.jpg.0fc43502cf6e0edd0c62b7a9d68030c8.jpg

 

post-75434-0-47819100-1342781685.thumb.jpg.54610c7367ba74364320912c0ff59af1.jpg

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On 01/04/2016 at 00:03, OctaviaVVRS said:

Silver you really know your stuff

Could you help me please

I want to go on a long drive tomorrow but I have issue with my tail lights

Are you able to view my post please?

I can repost on here

I appreciate ur wisdom and time

 

Sorry, only just seen this, I'm guessing you might have already solved the issue in the 2 years since posting! :D

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Thanks for your help Silver1001, the pictures are quite good, they tell the story.

 

I discovered that someone had put in a 21/5w bulb in the top holder. I replaced it this morning with a 21/4w and the problem seems to have been resolved so thanks again. I also replaced both flasher bulbs at the same time as the Orange paint on the bulb lenses had mostly fallen away.

 

I have been wondering if it is possible to add another CD rack?

 

John

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  • 2 years later...

Old topic but I have a similar issue. I have correct bulbs 21/4w but I don’t have a cable in the harness jack for the tail lights. Is this normal? Basically, now I have set my brake and fog bulbs to 12% brightness to create a “C” shape. Any ideas? It’s a pfl hatchback

 

14D4C18F-AF53-46AE-A463-D488AFF4C288.png

A417E0D2-8153-4834-8F7A-591161A340DA.jpeg

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2 hours ago, mesina87 said:

Old topic but I have a similar issue. I have correct bulbs 21/4w but I don’t have a cable in the harness jack for the tail lights. Is this normal? Basically, now I have set my brake and fog bulbs to 12% brightness to create a “C” shape. Any ideas? It’s a pfl hatchback

 

Yes that's normal :)

 

Not sure what you're using to adjust the lamp brightness but please take care as it's easy to mess up the lighting config on these cars...

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