Tail Light Bulb Replacement

[Nick W]

Hi guys, recently bought a Mk 5 GTi and had off side tail light go. Couldn't see how to change it, so took it to dealers, who kept me waiting for an hour and charged £12 to change it. Two weeks later the near side tail light now gone. How do I change it, do I need special tool? Can any one help. Thanks

[TagnuT]

Have you looked in your manual?
 or try this :-

http://volkswagen.msk.ru/electro/g5/g5_94_eng.pdf

save it to your comp then open it.    Its from the maitenance section at the top of the page. Page 71 onward.

[Nick W]

Thanks TagnuT,

I'm used to a fairly simple plastic clip arrangement to remove the light cluster. The two nuts holding this cluster in place looked too meaty for my liking and I was concerned they might be holding the car together. Reassuring to see from the guide that they are indeed securing the rear light clusster in place together with a perculier plastic probe adjuster thingamy-bob. Will have a bash at this tomorrow. Incidentally, my manual has none of this detail. Thanks again.

[ub7rm]

I was a bit dubious at taking the car apart to change a bulb as well but its piss easy and less hassle than the usual arrangement.

[Steve Baker]

It is straight forward, just try to avoid dropping the nuts behind the trim as you remove them once undone! 

[Nick W]

Thanks guys, changed the bulb this am and as you say it was very straight forward. Feel a bit of a fool for having to ask, but as I said, the nuts holding the light cluster appeared unnecessarily large for the job.

[Rollini]

what bulb is it that i need to get to swap it myself? is there i code or something i can go into halfords with?

[TagnuT]

1. Have a look in your manual. 2. The bulb will have its rating stamped on the metal part of the bulb. 3. Or you can go to Halfords they have a listing for cars/Bulbs

[Rollini]

1. the manual doesn't say what bulb it is 
2. i don't have the wrench thing at work to undo the bolts to get to the bulbs to check
3. halfords are rubbish! the website is as clear as mud and i just wanted an idea before trekking in there and asking the spotty 16yo

cheers tho 

[TagnuT]

The other option is to use the car finder on the powerbulbs website:-

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/bulb_finder.asp