So it seems everytime i need to replace a bulb or a fuse for the rear tail lights, it always triggers something else to fail, or fuse to blow, and more lights end of failing. All my lights were working fine the other day, I went through all the bulbs doing a regular check up just seeing if any needed to be replaced. One bulb needed to be replaced, so I did that and put everything back together. When i turned my car on my bulb failure light was still showing up. So i checked the fuses and they were all fine, none blown. So then i went through all the bulbs again to make sure nothing shorted or blew, but they are all fine.
Basically it seems everytime i need to change a bulb or fuse, more things go wrong and trigger almost all of the rear lights to not work, excpet the one in the rear window. Even though i went through all my fuses on the left drivers kick panel, and all the bulb are good, why is it still causing the break lights not to work when i press the breaks? I was thiking maybe its the circuit board that the bulbs are all connected too, but i checked both of them and they look good. any help is appreciated.
-Andrew
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1990 240DL 190,566 miles

Have you tried drilling the housings to let water out?

Every damn set of sedan taillights seems to get water in them in the lower outer position, which is of course the only light that matters.

I drill a couple of small holes, 1/16 or similar small bit, up into the corner of the light housing from the outer corner or side. Lets any collected water drain out.

IF your bad bulbs come out white, cracked, yellow, cloudy, or otherwise weird looking, you definitely had water in there. This keeps the taillights alive for a few more years. But as others have said, definitely clean all the socket contacts and ground screws as well.

Good luck with them!
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::: Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244 M47 212K ::: 90 745GL M47 275K ::: 90 745T AW71 213K ::: 90 745T Parts Car ::: 88 245DL SOLD! ::: 84 242DL Project ::: 70 VW Bus ::: 70 VW Pickup Project ::: 71 VW Notchback :::

Try cleaning the plastic circuit boards, use an eraser on the cicuitcs and at the plastic connector. Clean them to shiny, rebend, gently, the tabs on the bulb holders. Good pluck.

Remember to clean the bulb holders before putting in a bulb. If the lights work but the failure light is on, make sure that both sides of the car have the same bulb. The system detects current draw from both sides of the car, and if one side is lower than the other - check bulb comes on. That is the bulb with the X through it.
If you replaced one bulb, use the other new bulb (packs usually come in twos) on the other side. Do not forget the front parking lights on the same system.

Klaus
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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

All of the the bulbs match for each side, and I tried cleaing the bulb connector but still nothing. The lights on the left side work, but when the break is applied they dont light up. And the lights on the right side dont show anythig at all now. For a bit a few of the lights on the right side worked, but now none of them do. And so far when the break is applied only the light in the window comes on. Also all the bulbs in the front of the car are fine too. Thanks so far
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1990 240DL 190,566 miles

Check the ground wire for the tail light assembly. They tend to get rusty and loose the metal to metal connection.

Klaus
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1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi