Tricks to Detect and Troubleshoot Failing Audi Tail Lights

Has your Audi’s tail lights been flickering or gone out on you when you least expected it? This may not sound like a big concern at first glance but it can be very dangerous if not corrected in time. Of course, tail lights are very important to alert other drivers on the road, especially in dark or rainy conditions. So, how do you know if your Audi’s tail lights are starting to fail, and how can you rectify the situation? Let’s look at some tips for identifying and solving some of these issues.

Why Tail Lights Are Important

The tail lights allow the other drivers on the road to easily see your vehicle, especially at night, during fog, or heavy rainfall. They also come on when you apply the brakes so that other drivers can see that you are slowing down. If the tail lights do not work correctly, there will be accidents, you might get tickets, or even end up with significant harm to your Audi.

Signs That Your Audi’s Tail Lights Are Failing

Flickering or Dim Lights

When the tail lights of your Audi start to flicker or they seem to light up faintly, then you know there is something wrong. Flashing may be due to a loose connection while low brightness may be due to aged bulbs. These issues could also be caused by a problem with the electrical system.

Complete Light Failure

If either of your tail lights is not lighting at all, then this is a clear indication that the whole system has failed. This is mainly a result of a bad bulb, but can also be a result of a bad fuse or bad electrical wiring.

Warning Light on the Dashboard

A lot of the latest models of Audi have features that notify you when one of your lights is out. For instance, there’s a blinking light on the car’s dashboard showing that there is a problem with one of the taillights, such a light is not something that one should overlook since it may cause other problems.

Simple Troubleshooting Tips

Check the Bulbs

In most cases, the cause of a faulty tail light is a defective bulb that has burnt out. First, measure how damaged or broken the bulb appears to be. Replacements of a tail light bulb are usually easy and may be done with different tools that are easy to handle by a DIY expert. Nevertheless, you should take your vehicle to an expert for correct bulb replacement to avoid a situation where the bulb intermittently goes off due to poor installation.

Inspect the Fuse

At other times, the problem is not with the bulb, but with the fuse that is responsible for supplying power to the tail light. If the fuses are blown, your tail lights will not work. Take the owner’s manual of your Audi and find out where the tail light fuse is placed, then see whether it is the fuse connected to the tail light that is faulty. If so, then replace it with the specific fuse for your model, and if the problem is not the fuse, follow the next steps.

Examine Wiring

The other cause of failure in the tail lights is the wiring problem. If the bulbs and fuses are okay, loosen the wiring around the assembly of the tail light. Start searching for those connections that are a bit loose, and wires that are corroded. If something is wrong with the wiring then one has to take the Audi car to a mechanic as electrical repairs are not manageable with a DIY approach.

Clean the Tail Light Housing

Mud, dirt, and moisture may accumulate at the housing of the tail light and this results in the failure of the light. Remove the tail light housing and check its interior because there might be interference by dirt on the light. It is important not to allow the housing to be moist to prevent such cases from reoccurring in the future.

Why Choose Marlow Motor-Werks?

At Marlow Motor-Werks, we understand that getting every single competent in your Audi functioning to the best – including the tail lights is a very important factor for safety. We have skilled technicians who mainly deal with Audi and other popular European brands and are able to diagnose the most complex tail light issues.

Whether it is a mere change of a bulb or a complex electrical issue, we have both the capacity and means to make sure that you are back on the road again. We have our workshop based in Seaside, CA, so if you reside in or around the area, feel free to come to our shop. Book an appointment online now!