replacing number plate light housing today... tips??

boya

boya

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i am going to audi to pick up a replacement numberplate light housing as mine has corroded and none of the lights work now. mot is next week so need to get this sorted, i have bought the complete plastic unit that was fitted to the later b6's that comes with new everything. so has anyone changed one of these before?? if so what are they like to do? cheers. if i remember to take plenty of pics i will try to do a guide.
 
Do a search and you will see this has been covered extensively - there is a guide somewhere on the forum.
Use stainless steel allen screws and not the Audi supplied ones for the light lens fixings.
Here is a thread on the subject.
 
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All you need is in Woorlords link, drill the old ones out by drilling through the plastic lens to allow you to wind the screws out. Then replace them with stainless allen bolts and some coppaslip.
 
There is no need to use stainless screws, the later numberplate light holders are made from plastic hence there will be no corrosion. The olde rones were made from aluminium which was either painted black or was black anodised, and yes they would require stainless screws with plenty of copper grease.
 
That must be a very recent change, I bought my replacement within the last year (maybe 8 months or so) and it was still aluminum.
 
Strange, my 2004 1.8T S-line has a black plastic one, where did you get the part from. Some online retailers sell old or superseeded stuff cheap. i always use TPS, so you know you are getting the latest part.
 
audi upgrades
I got my plastic one from audi Sunderland, cam to £58 all together and all I needed to swap over was the lock barrel.
 
I need to get to the wiring for the number plate lights as I want to wire a resistor in for the number plate lights, I assume that the carpet trim on the boot lid needs to come out to gain access to it. I have the diagram for this, but it says 'detach lock cover panel', I think this is the black shroud over the lock, how does this come off (dont want to snap it :sadlike:)?

bootlidtrim.png
 
To get to the wiring you need to: remove the carpet on the bootlid, remove the 3 retaining bolts for the housing 10mm, remove the bolt holding the lock into the housing 10mm too. Then undo the boot release cable from the lock and electrical plug from the back of the housing, next twist the lock to remove it from the panel, now the housing should be able to come out, very easy job mate and I know that lot might not make much sence but once you get the boot trim off you will see.
 
boya said:
To get to the wiring you need to: remove the carpet on the bootlid, remove the 3 retaining bolts for the housing 10mm, remove the bolt holding the lock into the housing 10mm too. Then undo the boot release cable from the lock and electrical plug from the back of the housing, next twist the lock to remove it from the panel, now the housing should be able to come out, very easy job mate and I know that lot might not make much sence but once you get the boot trim off you will see.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, I always wondered how that came out as I got to do mine.
 
Just managed to get the carpet off and install the resistor for the LEDs. Mine was missing the middle clips to the sides of the carpet trim not sure if this is because its a B7, but that picture I posted helped because its difficult to feel where the clips are.

Luckily, I didnt need to take out the number plate light housing because the bolts looked like they are in really awkward places. I just unplugged the plug and wired up the resistor using choc blocks. It's the grey wire and the brown wire next to it on the extreme of the plug if it helps anyone
 
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One more thing mate, if you drop a bolt into the boot lid they are a nightmare to get out!!! It took me 45 mins to retrieve one with a magnetic pick up tool!
 
Thanks for the heads up, will bear that in mind. Best get a magnetic pick up tool to be safe :yes:
 
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