a really dumb question

I have mk1 cabriolet - the small 3rd red tail light has never worked and wiring all to pot.

On this years MOT test they picked up on it for some reason (was ok last year).

I am willing to wire it in but I am not sure if it is brake light or a fog light?

I am sure I read somewhere that they were introduced for the US market as an extra brake light.

Can anyone enlighten me here?

I don't think it's a 3rd brake light. The US models had the 3rd light built into the upper middle section of the tail gate. I've nicked this pic off ebay



I think it must be the fog light you're talking about. Is it mounted below the bumper ??

the red light in question !! if its fitted in the boot lid, this will be the high vis brake light as required by the us market, later fitted to all uk cars (I.E  in back windows)

If fitted below the bumper then its a fog light as required by uk cars

Really appreciate your replies folks.

Yes, its the one below the bumper which has never worked.

So you are saying this is in fact a fog light.

Well, got 18 hours before MOT to get it sorted and wired in. As a last resort I may just remove it for the day!

Thanks.

tcrabb said

As a last resort I may just remove it for the day!

Thanks.

Whoa - You can't do that… Rear fog light is a must have for your MOT!

Run a new, fused, wire from the battery, through a toggle switch inside the car somewhere to the rear fog. should be a nice quick temporary fix. You will only ever use it for the MOT anyway!

Fogs lights must be working and have a switch with a warning light on it to tell you inside the car that the fog light is switched on, if you don't it will fail the MOT

Rear fog is only required for cars first used on/after 1st April 1980. So, some earlier Golfs, if not fitted with them, will still pass. The series 1 style lamps (which carried over into the cabby for its lifetime) never incorporated fog lights (well, some did but didn't have reversing lamps (unsure???)), so you need a separate light.

I had a camper which had one of these. Because its low down and in the firing line of the rear wheel, it was regularly replaced every year for the MoT!

trouble is if its fitted it must work even on vehicles before 1980. so the answer is take it of the car if you falls into the pre 80's