x1rider

<center><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q33/x1rider/lic7.jpg"></center><p>A while ago I got a "number plate light is out" message in the dash display. After replacing both bulbs and still no light, I proceeded to strip the trunk of all the lining I could to expose the wiring harness. I printed a wiring diagram and started poking wires (and my goddamn fingers) with a multimeter and test light. The wires change colors like 5 times between the harness and the light so I was totally lost.
After coming to terms with the fact that I suck at reading wiring diagrams, I decided to perform a visual examination instead. I found my broken wire (grey) inside the rubber boot shown in the background. I just have to fix it now and somehow stick it back in there.
That is all!

javanator

Must be the extreme heat you get in the winters where you're at

x1rider

yes, I had a problem with my driver door harness, there were quite a few wires broken so I replaced the whole thing.

BjornSoren

Except it was only the bulb, but of course nothing goes well with the ol' A4. Both screws were stripped so I had to drill them out and retap different holes to replace both lights, took me about 5 hours of work. Irritating.

x1rider

Sounds like your issue required as much work as mine!

kjmiles

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/102326/img_4217.jpg"></center><p>It took me a helluva lot longer!! My recent saga with this is that I only had one screw stuck and discovered it after Hoen sent me FREE OF CHARGE (such nice guys) new license plate lights if I'd take pictures. Innocent enough, right? After I couldn't get it out, I drilled off the head (DUMB MOVE) and figured that I could twist the rest out - WRONG! Went to the stealership two days later to get a new light and I should have pulled the "I know what the MSRP on this part really is" but didn't and got a reaming to the tune of $17 and change (MSRP $13 something) plus a few $3.50 plastic nuts on my left front wheel-well liner. So then I tried to twist out the shank for the next several days, spraying it with some Bostik penetrating oil which is usually very good, but ain't nothing was going to work here. Then I was going to go the route of removing the entire housing to work on it with a drill press but couldn't figure out how to get the carpet trim off of the back of my Avant, so I bagged that. After a week or so, I decided to get brave and drill it out and retap the hole. The drilling out is good, but the angle and space is no good for retapping. I was going to use a self-tapping screw with the head ground down to fit the recessed hole (which I went through the trouble to fabricate), but just for s*its and giggles, I tried the screw that came with the light plus some gasket maker around the rubber and he screw itself AND IT BIT!! PHEW!! My wife was all over me about it over the two weeks, so I'm happier that I fixed it because of that than that I was able to fix it. If worse came to worse, I would have bought the new housing for $63 and change and then would have had to figure out how to get inside the trunk to replace it, so I'm glad I avoided that. The guy in parts at the stealership (and my mechanic, who said it's ridiculous) even told me that this is a problem that they see all the time. Glad I got that all of my chest - I feel better now. The new bulbs look good! Ah, I miss my old CT plate (and my '92 Montana Green 16V GTI).

javanator

Wow! What an ordeal to have to go through.

kjmiles

Truly a PITA! I felt the need to sympathize. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.

Serg31

same problem, no idea what to do