Rear brake lights and flashing coil light

stew · Post by **stew** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:17 am

Hello.

Just had the strangest problem. Drove back after a 30 mile journey with no problems but when i got out the car i noticed the rear brake lights wouldnt go off even with the key out and front lights off..

Tried to work brake peddle incase it was just a loose connection but no luck so took it for a drive to see if that would help it. 5 mins into drive the amber coil light starts flashing at me!!!!

This has got me really confused. the only way i could get the lights off was to disconnect the battery and leave it disconnected. I was worried about resetting the ECU but this might be a good thing as maybe it will shed more light if the problem still exists tommorrow.

Has anyone had any experience with this or is this a new thing?

Post by **alexperkins** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:09 am

Brakes are most likely the brake light switch - bout a fiver to replace from a dealer

panda · Post by **panda** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:57 pm

sounds like the brake light switch on the pedal, it's a trigger operated switch on the brake pedal. Get a new one from the dealer. Your old one will be black or maybe even green. New one should be purple as that's the newest variant.

Post by **alexperkins** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:59 pm

New ones can be green also

Depends on the model

panda · Post by **panda** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:09 pm

green got replaced by purple I think you'll find.

Post by **alexperkins** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:20 pm

transporter ones are green

Well they were on the shelves at VW anyhow!

panda · Post by **panda** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:48 pm

well they're old ones then, i'd suggest you check with the boss man at VW head office.

Post by **alexperkins** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:04 pm

Just thinking bout it, 2 wire ones are green and 4 wire are purple

stew · Post by **stew** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:41 am

Thanks for the help folks. I think the brake light switch is the root of all the problems as when the brake lights go off after being on for a while the coil light stops flashing???? must be tied in somehow and the error signal is being misintrpreted?

How big/complicated a job is it to change out this switch? Is it a garage job or can a guy with a socket set and a couple of odd size screwdrivers give it a go?

Post by **alexperkins** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:44 am

Its easy - the switch just twists 45 degrees left or right (i cant remember which) and then just pull out. Disconnect the wiring and put the new switch in the reverse order. It really is that simple.

stew · Post by **stew** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:09 am

Cool thanks Alex I will get the part at luncnhtime and give it a try tonight and hopefully that solve it. Ill let you know how i get on but if this works it will have saved me a lot of time, money and hassle

Cheers

Stew

DanDiesel · Post by **DanDiesel** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:25 pm

may be worth getting the car plugged in at vw to make sure about the coil light!
mine kept coming on for a while until one day on a small trip out to my uncle's (about 7 miles), weird things started happening and i eventually broke down

get it checked just to be on the safe side.