Hi all

my yeti keeps telling me that my rear left side bulb has gone, I’ve changed the 2 bulbs but still the car is telling me it’s not working, I’ve tried turning car on and off but still no luck,  any ideas?

@Sarahfrench - This might sound like a stupid question, but have you checked the bulbs visually to see if they illuminate? If they do, then the problem is with the monitor rather than the bulbs.

The bulb out warning can be quite sensitive so even if a bulb is working but has degraded it might detect it before it fails.

 

It could be a loose connection or damaged wire too. Are all the rear side lights the same brightness?

What about the repeater bulb in the mirror?

Perhaps the OP would confirm exactly which bulb is said to be duff; rear "side" light, brake light, rear fog light or indicator light

I would also check that the contacts on the back of the lamp unit are secure and tight

Thanks for all the reply’s, I’ve replaced both back side light bulbs

@Llanigraham @Sarahfrench - Actually, that's a good point. My experience is that a loose contact tends to blow bulbs as they shake in and out of circuit, but it can't hurt to bend the sprung contact slightly so the bulb is held tighter.

44 minutes ago, Sarahfrench said:

Thanks for all the reply’s, I’ve replaced both back side light bulbs

 

I presume you have used the correct bulbs? And they were new ones?
As said, I would also check the connections on the back of the light unit.

Yes Llanigraham,  yes I’ve used the right bulbs brand new bulbs, 5 watt side light bulb 

Are you sure those are the correct wattage? Thought the rear ones were 21w.

Nah, that would be much too bright for sidelights.

Side lights are 501 bulbs.  21v 5 watt capless 

Oh!! Never changed any on the back of my Yetis.

A thought. You haven't replaced them with LED ones, have you?

 

15 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

Are you sure those are the correct wattage? Thought the rear ones were 21w.

A plain 21W would be a single function brake or rear-fog bulb (oh yes, or a reverse or indicator). A tail light would be a 5W or a combined 21/5W stop+tail (OK, not on an Octy 2, but I'm being comprehensive)

Shows how many times I've changed a rear light bulb!

@Llanigraham - I used to do "easy jobs" for a mechanic mate, and still read handbooks!

10 hours ago, KenONeill said:

A plain 21W would be a single function brake or rear-fog bulb (oh yes, or a reverse or indicator). A tail light would be a 5W or a combined 21/5W stop+tail (OK, not on an Octy 2, but I'm being comprehensive)

Not always. Some cars use 21w tail and brake and fog. The brightness of the tail light is reduced using PWM so although its a 21w 12v bulb it never actually runs at 12v .............

In fact having just checked my yeti on autobulbsdirect it has 382 p21w bulbs for both stop and tail!

So from this I surmise that the OP has the wrong bulbs unless of course my yeti is odd.

Edited 15 June, 20188 yr by idleness

8 minutes ago, idleness said:

Not always. Some cars use 21w tail and brake and fog. The brightness of the tail light is reduced using PWM so although its a 21w 12v bulb it never actually runs at 12v .............

In fact having just checked my yeti on autobulbsdirect it has 21w bulbs for both stop and tail!

 

I've also just looked and found the same thing, and looking through the red lenses the bulbs inside certainly don't look like the little 501's.

OK to complicate matters - some Skodas use "4w" filaments not "5w" for tail lights! I think it might have been a version of the MKII Octavia. Think they had a 21/4 bulb eg :- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Osram-566-P21-4W-Brake-Stop-Tail-Light-Bulb-12v-21-4w-BAZ15D-Offset-Pin/401312855694?epid=5017023571&hash=item5d701c368e:g:Kw0AAOSwzqFY-7ei

 

Yeti will probably be different though

 

Edited 15 June, 20188 yr by bigjohn

Strangely my 4 year old Yeti has flashed up the bulb out warning several times over the last few weeks - my earlier post: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/449386-repeated-bulb-out-warnings/?tab=comments#comment-5049551

 

I've variously had warnings that number plate, DRL, rear side light and front fog have failed, but all have responded to a firm tap (and relit)

 

Given the frequency of these warnings I removed both rear light clusters and found no evidence of moisture ingress / degredation of the bulb holders (a common cause of spurious bulb out warnings on BMW's I'd previously owned). I took the opportunity to remove and reseat all the bulbs, but I'm still seeing fairly regular warnings.

 

I had wondered if this relates to the recently variable weather - high humidity / rain? Of simply that the car is aging and becoming a little finicky

 

A failing battery was previously suggested, but all seems well in that respect.

Edited 15 June, 20188 yr by pinkpanther

^  as above but only on rears lights, a tap sorted the problem just before the the French equivalent mot however did go round all the lights and gave all the bulbs and holders a squirt of switch/contact cleaner followed by wd40 no probs subsequently, however, having now said that probably reoccur later!

Capless lamps, make sure the wire contacts do their job, I bought new ones for a caravan application and found the contacts

were too inset to work, lamps made in eastern europe.

When you can, always rub the base solder contact on a lamp this can cause a resistance, just rub it on your jeans or trousers before fitting. 

It is possible to buy a multimeter for around £10 or less, and it will let you test a lamp before you bin it, or fit it even. useful for checking fuses to.

I wonder what the final result/cure was?

1 hour ago, idleness said:

I wonder what the final result/cure was?

We may never know.............

 

My car has however reverted to telling me a variety of bulbs have blown, all of which have re-lit, following a firm tap

Just now, pinkpanther said:

We may never know.............

 

My car has however reverted to telling me a variety of bulbs have blown, all of which have re-lit, following a firm tap

I got bored with doing that and changed all the offending bulbs even though they were working. Not had a warning since.