Anyone know how to remove the number plate fitment?

[Westy]

The right rear number plate fitment has blown 2 led bulbs in the space of 3 weeks so I thought i'd investigate it tonight. Anyway the multimeter was not happy on that side and seeing as I'd bought a replacement fitting I tried to swap them over.

I took off all the plastic trim from the inside of the boot lid so I could access it all from behind but I cant get the little fecker out.

Any tips will be greatfully recieved.

 

[AGU-TURBO]

Hi i had the same problem yesterday. they get corroded and break the circuit. i just run some solder along to join it all back up.

if you open you'r boot t make it easy you will notice there is 2 screws either side of the light. undo them and it just pullls out.

 

[Westy]

Hi i had the same problem yesterday. they get corroded and break the circuit. i just run some solder along to join it all back up.

if you open you'r boot t make it easy you will notice there is 2 screws either side of the light. undo them and it just pullls out.

Cheers mate but it's definitely not that simple! I've looked at the workshop manual for the A3 and it seems to differ from the S3 quite a bit.

I've unscrewed the plastic cover that also holds the bulb (the LED one I put in a week ago) but then the fitting itself wont come out.

I've got a brand new fitting and from what I can see there is a clip on the right hand side of the inside of it. I've depressed this but it still wont move as if the thing is glued in place.

I removed the boot lid trim and pushed at the thing from behind but it wont budge. I'll try and get some pics later.

 

[A3Tom]

Dude, do you mean pull the big bit of trim off that the lock goes through and the number plate lights sit in? (the one that always corrodes?!)

If so, I took mine off yesterday to wrap it and its easy.

Take the boot trim off (inside) and you'll see the washer motor and what not bolted in. There's 2 10mm nuts that hold the outer trim on. Take these off and carefully pull from the outside and it should come off.

Then when you get it away unclip the number plate light wires, I had to use a small screwdriver.

Then once you're holding the bit of exterior trim take the lenses out of the number plate lights. You'll see that the light fittings/bulb holders slide in and out, press the little prongs in and pull them out. The prongs broke on mine but they're a tight fit and wont matter if you have new bulb holders etc.

Thats on a 2000 A3, so I'd imagine it'll be pretty similar on yours...maybe less bolts perhaps.

 

[Westy]

Yes mate the actual bit that sits in the body work then has a cable connected to it from the inside. I saw the 2 nuts that hold on the motor but couldn't believe that I'd need to undo those to get at the holders. I'll try again later. Thanks.

 

[colinra]

the light holders themselves are handed left and right so dont try to swap them over! been there done that, and paid for 2 new ones!!

 

[finesse]

Weary, bulbs gone too on mine, how much teh bulbs?

 

[A3Tom]

No worries dude. There were actually 4 bolts holding mine on thinking about it, they're all obvious though once you've got the trim off the inside of the boot lid though.

Dont worry about taking them off though, my wiper motor and lock stayed put without them

 

[Stanley]

 

[Westy]

I had another look at this on Friday evening and I dont think it needs removing at all. I tried it again with the multimeter and it read the same as the one on the other side that isn't blowing bulbs.

I'm now starting to think that this has something to do with the LEDs!!! Has anyone had any problems with LEDs blowing in 1 place only?

 

[A3Tom]

I run LED's in mine and never had an issue with the ones I'm running now. The ones I had before however were really *****.

I think my current ones came from Ultra LEDs and they're spot on.

 

[Westy]

I've got these LEDs in every bulb slot in the car and they've all been fine except the drivers side number plate bulb! Gone through 2 on that one. I might try some ultra LEDs then and if they blow I'll know I have an issue.