Replacing a blown rear brake light in a caddy

[Rigertee]

Hi all,

I feel really dumb asking this

I need to replace the bulb in the rear lamp cluster in my Caddy panel van.

However there is no obvious way of removing the lens or gaining access to the globes through the rear of the lamp cluster.

I have checked the handbook & there is plenty of info re headlights, there is no info regarding the rear lights!!

Has anybody replaced a rear globe? & how did you do it.

Any tips greatly appreciated

[Pete Mk1]

Accessing the rear lights for a bulb change on The Caddy is a bit of puzzle when you first look at it.
With the rear doors open fully you need to pry the plastic insert that is at the side of the light away carefully.
Once you have done this the phillips head screws will be revealed.
Undo these little chaps and you will be able to remove the tail light and change your globe.
Took me a little while the first time.
But you must do it in order to get the bulb warning light to go off on the dash.
Hope this helps
Pete Mk1

[Rigertee]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for tip

I was able to remove the plastic insert & get to the screws, which are not "Philips" head screws in my Caddy, but a proprietary head, fortunately a std flat head screwdriver works just fine, very fiddly though.

I have a rear windscreen wiper on my vehicle so could not open the doors right up, as this makes the wiring loom press against the plastic insert which reduces the inserts manoeuvrability

Once the 2 screws are removed the lens assembly simply pops out, there are 2 small Phillips head screws to be undone - & hey presto access to the bulbs is obtained

Then you realise that the std replacement brake lamp bulb isn't slotting into socket as easily as it should

On closer inspection you find that the lugs on the original bulb have a very slightly different offset (approx 160 degrees vs. 180 degrees) & you have to go to the VW spare parts dept to buy a special bulb.

Of course you have to put everything together again - fiddly & know you have to go through the same process tomorrow - very frustrating

VW - it should not be this difficult to change a bulb grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Rigertee]

Hi All,

Finally I changed the light globe - took about 1/2 an hour though.

Should be much quicker next time, as I have drilled a couple of holes in the plastic inset that hides the screws to remove the lens unit.

Interesting to note that there are 2 part #'s for this piece of plastic;

One part number for the part "with" holes to access the securing screws & another part number for the part "without" holes to access the securing screws!!

all the best to all
RigerT

[curtisjackson]

Then you realize that the std replacement brake lamp bulb isn't slotting into socket as easily as it should

German car components are very complicated to work with simple parts to replace becomes so tricky to replace.
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Bulb Socket