My Octavia stop/tail lights are dim, the brake lights only seem as bright as the tail lights and the tail lights are noticeably dim (see pictures).

Does anyone have any ideas???

First step is checking the bulbs are the right kind and in good condition.

 

What happens when you turn the rear fog light on? Is that noticeably brighter than the tail lights?

 

Has the car always had this problem? 

 

Do you know if it's ever had the BCM replaced and have you had it scanned for faults with VCDS or similar?

It has new bulbs fitted, not checked the fog lights..

i have VCDS and it doesn’t appear to have any faults, but will run a new scan tomorrow..

 

Any chance you fitted the bulbs the wrong way round?

 

If I remember correctly, the brake/tail is a dual filament bulb.

Stop tail light bulbs are offset pins.. it’s a very strange fault it’s like the o/s and n/s lights are low on voltage. All the other tail lights and the top brake light are fine. 

Although the brake/tail is a dual filament, i'm pretty sure it only uses the 21w filament. The tail light brightness is done by dimming the 21W filament rather than using the 4W filament.

 

Although they have offset pins, I've still seen them fitted the wrong way round. Assuming that was was the case it would match your symptoms perfectly...

 

Have you still got the old bulbs or any other P21/4W to rule out the new bulbs?

Two kinds of dual filament bulb, common is 380, less common is 566, have different offset pin arrangement. Not interchangeable, though you can often force them in, but they wont work right.

 

Not sure, but think Octavia ii uses the less common 566 bulb.

My Octavia certain took P21/4W bulbs which I think are 566.

 

If the OP fitted P21/5W bulbs which I think are 380, it might be possible to have them feel about right despite being incorrectly fitted.

 

Double check the bulb carrier, pretty sure it states which should be fitted.

Just had a quick look.. I must have got the standard of set pins hb380 from supplier and not the hb566 bulbs,

looks like a quick trip out in a bit.. 

(they even went in easy) ..

Any news @Auto5640 - was it just the bulbs?

Yes it was the bulbs.. so a nice easy little fix

You see so many MkII Octavia's out on the road with the wrong bulbs fitted.

 

Not sure why Skoda chose 4W instead of 5W for the tails.