Have just had my 51 Octy TDI Elegance serviced today and they identified a problem with the rear number plate light not working. They changed the bulbs and the fuse (apparently) without success, they said the problem was most likely with the wiring loom.

Anyone had this problem before? I heard one guy here had to have the whole lock replaced due to melted electrics :(

Will double check the bulbs and fuse as soon as I get some spare time.

on my 2001 TDi elegance estate I have two rear number plate lights. I very much doubt there is a seperate fuse for just the rear numberplate lights. I would check that they have not accidently pushed the bulb holders into the the middle of the tailgate.....

It's quite possible - when we got SWMBO's car back from service, the guy said that the glove compartment light needed replacing, and that they didn't have the correct bulb so could we bring it back in the next day? I had a spare at home, so set about replacing it myself, however it turned out that they'd completely messed-up removing the old bulb, and had even left a new on in the little tray in the glove compartment. I think they were just stalling for time until they could figure out how the bulb holder went back together. But the lack of the correct bulb wasn't the problem, that's for sure!

So, I'm with mbames on this one - see about removing the cover and looking inside to make sure everything's as it should be. It might just be that the connector attaching the bulb holder to the wiring has come loose...

:iagree:

Check and see whether or not you can see the relevant bulb-holder. The bulbs are the "wedge" type, and the bulb-holders just push into the lock/bulb surround, so it's very easy to "lose" one into the bowels of the tailgate. DAMHIKT!

Initially I would pop off the clear external cover and see if the bulb holder is actually there before taking the trim off from the inside of the car. On my estate someone had been in therefore and not out it back together properly so I was able to pull it apart with less force. However putting it back together required an additional set of hands (if nothing else but to hold things in place).... Also watch out for all the plastic alignment lugs that need to go into there respective holes (the previous person to pull mine off had not got them back in properly)

Initially I would pop off the clear external cover and see if the bulb holder is actually there before taking the trim off from the inside of the car. On my estate someone had been in therefore and not out it back together properly so I was able to pull it apart with less force. However putting it back together required an additional set of hands (if nothing else but to hold things in place).... Also watch out for all the plastic alignment lugs that need to go into there respective holes (the previous person to pull mine off had not got them back in properly)

:iagree: in full - in fact that's what I meant. Oh yeah, and when I was in there anyway I wrapped some insulating tape round the number plate bulbholders.

when I was in there anyway I wrapped some insulating tape round the number plate bulbholders.

I think I applied a little bit of hot-glue-gun glue to mine.....

I think I applied a little bit of hot-glue-gun glue to mine.....

That would have meant buying one specially for me.

Well the guys at the Skoda dealership conveniently left the plastic cover underneath the rear window dangling so one little pull and the whole thing came off, had a mooch around, both bulbs look connected ok and the holders are in place (very easily to dislodge though!). Must be a break on the cable somewhere :( About to go out and buy a Haynes, so will find out if it's on a fuse, must be as BOTH bulbs aren't working (unless cable broke).

I'd be looking where the wiring goes from the tailgate into the car (in the rubber boot).

:iagree: - wrt the earlier stuff, I think we'd all presumed that only one bulb had "failed".

Sorry my fault, both lights not working, would that be indicative of a fuse or wiring problem would you think?

Yes. Don't have a fuse diagram to hand, but they'll both be on the same fuse.

But IIRc the number plate lights arent fused seperately to the side lights.

There is a full fuse listing in your handbook.

oh... according to mine:

Fuse no. 4 - License plate lights - 5 amps

Might be worth checking there is not an earthing fault....

Got a pal at work to check the wiring today, the fault was between the bulbs and the rubber boot at the top of the boot next to the hinges (left boot if anyone wishes to know). Further examination pointed it to the connecter just inside the boot housing. Pulled out the cable and saw some corroding, cleaned it up sprayed some stuff on it (anti-oxident I think), put back in, working fine now Many thanks one and all for your useful posts, ain't this site brill!

Not 3 bad. Would have got the issue sooner if we'd known both bulbs were out though (cos we'd not have assumed the problem was with just one of them).