Dule3.0

Hello to all,

I am new to this board but not new to DIY car maintenance and I hope you'll have some patience for a maybe very basic question but I prefer to get pointers before I start digging up cables in my wife's 2003 A4 3.0 automatic.

I have a problem with the right front indicator. I change the bulb and in a couple of hours (or maybe even minutes) the bulb stops working. The car has xenon headlights and I have become an expert in taking the headlight unit in and out to change the above mentioned bulb.

I presume the problem is elsewhere and I would really appreciate any pointers.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Best regards

Dule

diagnosticator1

Inside the bulb socket there are bent strips of metal that contact the bulb. Make sure that the contacts are tight when the bulb is inserted into the socket.

Aarononymous

Bend the three tabs/strips on the socket out, done.

daveak05

Bulbs are a common problem for VW/Audi cars. The germans are basically neanderthals when it comes to electronics and the design of electrical systems. Lucas is one of the worst, and has been over the years. The Japanese cars have no such quirky electrical/fuse/relay problems that the German cars typically suffer from.

As the previous owner of a 2001 Jetta Wagon(made in Germany, not Mexico), I had 2 headlights go at the same instant upon starting the car. No way that's a coincidence! Also had left turn indicator go haywire. Turned out to be a bad bulb.

Moral of the story is to expect electrical problems that may or may not be related to a simple bulb replacement...which are far to frequent on VW/Audi cars anyway.

D-

paul128

same problem--my dealer changed the entire headlight assembly, and no bulb out since