Changing light bulbs
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Indicator lights
Information on light bulb replac e ment
Replacing headlight bulbs
Changing light bulbs in the front bumper
Changing taillight bulbs in the rear hatch
Changing taillight bulbs in the vehicle body
Changing license plate light bulbs
Changing a light bulb requires a certain amount of skill. If you are uncertain about how to proceed,
Volkswagen recommends having the light bulb changed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Special training and knowledge are gener all y required when
other vehicle parts must be disassembled to replace a bulb, or when HID – High Intensit y Discharg e
(Xenon) must be replaced.
You should always keep a box in the vehicle with all the replacement bulbs required for traffic safety.
Replacement bulbs are available from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or Authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility. The laws of some countries explicitly require you to have replacement bulbs in the
vehicle.
Driving with outside lights that do not work may be against the law.
Additional light bulb specifications
Some factory-installed light bulbs in the headlights or the rear lights may have different speci fications
than conventional light bulbs. Specifications are on the glass bulb or on the metal base.
More information:
Lights and Vision
Hybrid drive
Working in the engine compartment
Vehicle tool kit
Fuses
WARNING
.
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ah ead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
WARNING
.
Improper replacement of bur ned out headlights and other li gh t b ulbs can cause serious
personal injury.
Stop! Always read and heed the WARNINGS before doing any work in the engine
compartment. The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous area,
and work in this area ca n lead to serious personal injury.
HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) get power from a high- vol tage source that can
cause severe personal injury and even death if handled improperly.
HO7 bulbs and HID – High Intensity Dischar g e (Xenon) are under high pressure and can
explode if handled improperly.
Always let a burned out light bulb cool down before replacing it.
Never replace a light bulb unless you are familiar with all of the necessary procedures. In
particular, never remove a headlight unless you know exactly how to CARry out the job and
have the correct tools and light bulbs.
If you are uncertain about what to do, ha ve the wor k per f or med by an authorized
Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facilit y, or anot her qu ali fied
workshop. Serious personal injur y may result from improperly performed w ork.
We strongly recommend that you always have HID - High Intensity Discharge (Xenon)
lamps and HO7 bulbs replaced by a quali fied technician.
Do not touch the glass of light bulbs with your bare hands. Fingerprints left on the bulb
evaporate due to the heat when the bulb i s sw itched on and cause the reflector to “cloud ”.
There are sharp edges on and around the headlight housing in the engine compartment
and the taillight housing. Wear hand pro tection if you replace bulbs.
NOTICE
.
After replacing a headlight bulb or other light bulb, always make sur e that the rubber covers or
plastic caps have been properly and sec ur ely reinstalled to help prevent water from getting
into the electrical connections and headlight housing and damaging the electrical system.
Indicator lights
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Lights up Possible cause Proper response
Replace the light bulb that isn't working. If all
Headlight not working.
=
One or more brake lights burned out.
^
License plate light not working.
A
light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
Replace the light bulb that isn't working. If all
light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
Replace the light bulb that isn't working. If all
light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights co m e on briefly for a function
check. They go out after a few seconds.
WARNING
.
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to
break down in traffic and result i n a coll i s ion and ser ious personal injury.
Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
.
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can resul t in vehicle damage.
Failure of a single LED within a taillight is not indicated. Howeve r, the = indicator light will come
on if all LEDs fail.
Information on light bulb replacement
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Checklist
Steps for replacing a light bulb. Please CARry out these steps only in the order listed ⇒ .
1. Stop the vehicle in a safe place on level and firm groun d at a safe dist a nc e from traffic.
2. Apply the parking brake
3. Turn the light switch to
4. Move the turn signal lever to neutral position
5. Shift the transmission into Park (P)
6. Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch
7. Let orientation lighting go out
8. Let the burned out light bulb cool down.
9. Check if the fuse is blown
10. Replace the burned out light bulb according to instructions ⇒
bulb with a good bulb with the same specifications. Specifications are on the glass bulb or on the
metal base.
11. Never touch the glass of the light bulb with your bare hands. Fingerprint s can cloud the outer
surface of the light bulb when heated, affecting the lighting power, clouding the reflector, and
reducing the brightness.
12. Always make sure that the new bulb works. If the bulb does n ot wo rk, it may not be installed
correctly; the connection plug may not be completely seated; the corresponding fuse may be
burned out; or the bulb may be bad.
13. Always have the headlights adjusted by an authorize d Vol kswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility after a headlight bulb has been replace d.
0 position
.
. Always replace a burned-out light
WARNING
.
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious injuries.
Always review and follow the checklist. Foll ow accepted safety practices and use comm on
sense.
NOTICE
.
Always insert and remove lamps CARefully to avoid damage to the vehicle paint or to other
parts of the vehicle.
Changing a turn signal bulb
Please CARry out each step only in the order specified:
(3) (5)
Turn signal (halogen) Turn signal (xenon headlight)
1. Please review and follow the checklist
2. Open the engine hood
Pull off rubber cover (B) from back of
headlight.
3.
4. Pull the bulb holder out towards the rear
along with the light bulb.
5. Pull the light bulb straight out of bulb
holder.
6. Replace the burned out light bulb with a new bulb of the same type.
7. Insert the bulb holder into the headlight
and slide it in completely.
Fit rubber co ver (B) onto back of
8.
headlight.
Remove the plastic cover with control unit
(C) on the back of the headlight
assembly. Press the catch down and
remove the cover along with the control
unit towards the rear. Do not disconnect
the plugs.
Pull the bulb holder up and out of its
catch, turn it counterclockwise about 20°,
and remove it towards the rear along with
the light bulb.
Pull the light bulb and base straight out of
bulb holder.
With the lamp holder turned about 20°
counterclockwise, inert it into the
headlight assembly and push it in all the
way. Turn the lamp holder clockwise as
far as it goes and push it down into the
catch.
Reinstall the plastic cover with control unit
(C). Make sure that the plastic cover
clicks into place.
The illustrations show the left headlight assembly from the rear. The right headlight assembly is
the mirror image of the left headlight assembly.
Different models may have different lights, and the location and design of covers, bulb holders,
and bulbs may be in a different location than shown in the illustrati on s.
You cannot replace the LEDs in LED daytime running li ghts. Contact your authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.
Removing the taillight assembly
1. Please review and follow the checklist
2. Open the rear hatch
3.
Remove covers ⇒ fig. 330 (3), (4) or luggage compartment light (2). Insert the flat blade of
the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit into the slot and CARefully pry off the covers or pry
out the luggage compartment light in the direction of the arrow.
4. Put the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit in the central screw (1).
Loosen the central screw (1) while holding the taillight. The central screw stays in the
5.
vehicle body and is secured so that it can't fall out.
Changing the light bulb
6. CARefully guide the taillight assembly towards the rear out of its mountings.
Press the release tabs of the bulb holder ⇒ fig. 331 in the direction of the arrows and
7.
remove the bulb holder from the taillight assembly.
8. Place the taillight assembly on a clean and flat surface.
9. Replace the burned out light bulb with a new bulb of the same type.
Installing the taillight assembly
10.
11.
12. Hold the taillight assembly in position with one hand and tighten the central screw with the
13. Make certain that the taillight assembly is positioned corre ctly and sec ur ely.
14. Install covers (3), (4) or luggage compartment light (2).
15. Close the rear hatch
CARefully put the taillight assembly in the opening in the vehicle body. The locking tab
must latch with an audible click.
CARefully put the taillight assembly in the opening in the vehicle body. Make sure that the
electrical cable of the taillight is inserted as far as possible into the body, and that it sits
properly in the mountings.
other hand ⇒ fig. 330 (1).
LEDs in the rear taillights
Changing LEDs is not possible without dismantling vehicle c omp on e nts. Contact an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Taillights with LEDs may also have some “standard” light bulbs. These bulbs can be replaced.
Different models may have different taillights, and the light bulb may be in a different lo c ati on
.
than shown in the illustrations.
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