Brake light blowing = popped fuse and loss of all brakelights?

[Waffs1984]

As per title. A few weeks ago i was driving home and a guy followed me all the way and then told me none of my brakelights were working (!). I checked them and the middle upper one was, but none of the main lights. Checked the bulbs and one was blown so replaced and no joy. Strange i thought, but then checked the fuse in the panel in the dash (accessed when the drivers door is open and the small panel removed) and the fuse has NOT BLOWN but had popped out of position. Pushed it back in and all sorted.

Anyway took my car for MOT this morning and the only problem is that none of the brakelights work, kicking myself for not checking but i had to be up early, drop the car, assemble the bike and ride to work at 7 this morning so hey-ho. Anyway i'm assuming the other brakelight has gone, but why would this cause (i'm assuming as i collect the car later this aft) the main fuse to "pop" out of position?

Its deffo a strange one! 

[Rhyso]

Dodgy brake light switch?

[Waffs1984]

Hmmm this had crossed my mind - you reckon it could be shorting out or something? Is it hard to access/replace, i'm assuming its just down behind the brake pedal itself?

[Rhyso]

Hmmm this had crossed my mind - you reckon it could be shorting out or something? Is it hard to access/replace, i'm assuming its just down behind the brake pedal itself?

Could well be mate - bit fiddly to get at and you can break the new one putting it in.  There's a guide in the info section to replace it    Its no more than a tenner from the dealers

A VAGCOM / code reader should bring it up as a fault if its playing up but for £10 its worth replacing

[Waffs1984]

Cheers Rhys, i think i'll plug the fuse back in and get my free re-test tomorrow/later today to get it passed and out the way then order a switch and get it sorted 

[Waffs1984]

OK all sorted now, managed to get back to the dealers (where i had my MOT done) and got hold of a new brake light switch for all of £9.00. The good news is they have updated the model number again and done away with the fiddly part of depressing then turning the plunger or else it breaks. Now its a much more simple design that you simple get into position and then once you rotate it to lock it in place it automatically sets the length of the plunger and activated the electronic connection - just gotta pop back in on Thur morning for a free re-test just for a £9.00 bloody switch!

Anyway the part number i got is 1C0 945 511 A  and its £9.56 - hope this helps some people out in the future!

[Rhyso]

Ah good news mate 

Solved your problem then?

[Waffs1984]

Yeah all sorted now mate - no bulbs had blown and the fuse was not popped and not blown either so i reckon when it first happened a few weeks ago it was just a loose fuse probably disturbed it when i was fitting my boost gauge