I received a message that the number plate lights were out and they were. I replaced the bulbs (existing bulbs were black so I couldn't tell if they were burned out or not) and this did not resolve the problem.

While I was trouble-shooting this issue the right light worked briefly. It seems that the lights don't work if the trunk is open. Can anyone tell me what does the switching for that? The trunk interior light is triggered by the trunk latch closing (this works flawlessly). There are also two switches on either side of the trunk that are activated/deactivated when the trunk is opened/closed. I can push both of these up into the trunk and lock them into place with a screwdriver, but nothing seems to happen because of this.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

2002 A4 1.8T

 

License bulbs are tricky in most audi's. Due to them having the prong/on contact setup. When you replace them make sure the prongs are going to be making contact. If their slighty bent they wont work. When your replacing them, turn on your parking lights that way, they will have power to them.

 

kwik_shift,

The contacts are clean and they are making contact. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Just tested with a volt meter and got nothing. Is there a fuse that's associated with the license plate lights? Is there a connection that could have come apart?

Thanks.

 

Check all the fuses by the driver's side panel. Could be that there's one blown. As for a connection coming apart, I don't think so. Everything is nicely tucked behind the liner.

 

I had the same problem. I took off the rear hatch cover( I have an Avant ), and found that both plug-ins for the plate lights were not even plugged in at all. So then i replaced the bulbs with White LED's and it looks awesome at night.
Hope that might help.

 

99b5avant,

I'll give that a try.

kwik_shift,

I pulled every fuse this afternoon and all were fine.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

try to reverse to polarity of the lights. + to -/ - to +

 

I pulled of the panel on the inside of the trunk and everything appeared to be hooked up properly.

Below is what I have tried so far to get the License/Number Plate Lights to work.

- Replaced bulbs
- Verified that the contacts are clean and making contact
- Swapped direction of both bulbs
- Verified that ALL fuses in the fuse box are good
- Removed the panel from the inside of the trunk and verified that all connections are good

Does anyone have any further suggestions?

Thanks.

 

shh man i dunno then. I had some trouble getting the contacts to match up. So u have tried ur stock bulbs and still no signal?