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Indicating left with engine off, puts on both brake lights!

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Fun new quirk of the old car… Like most VWs, if you put the indicator on with the engine off, a front and rear side light should turn on, on that side.

For my car, indicating right turns on the front and rear right side lights.

However, if I indicate left with the engine off: the front left side light comes on as expected. However, the rear brake lights turn on, both left and right side. (I know it's the brake lights as they're a lot brighter) any ideas? Seems like a wiring issue to be sure, but I haven't a clue where to start looking for a faulty wiring problem!

All the other rear lights work correctly with the engine running, so it seems unique to the side light functionality. Just not sure what is causing it!

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check that twin and single filament bulbs havent been swapped/put in wrong place (twins are side/brake combined)

not on a VW but helped a friend whose lights were doing silly things and someone had put the wrong bulbs in

Last edit: by Early-1800


1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.

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Early-1800 said

check that twin and single filament bulbs havent been swapped/put in wrong place (twins are side/brake combined)

not on a VW but helped a friend whose lights were doing silly things and someone had but the wrong bulbs in

Ah interesting, hadn't considered that. Will take a look tomorrow!

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Check and clean up the earth wires, worth removing the bulb holders and giving them a good clean up, anything furry needs to go. Remove al, the bulbs and give the metal shroud and lead contact a rub with some scotch pad

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jakethepeg007 said

Check and clean up the earth wires, worth removing the bulb holders and giving them a good clean up, anything furry needs to go. Remove al, the bulbs and give the metal shroud and lead contact a rub with some scotch pad

Is it weird that there are only earth leads on the left rear light cluster and none on the right?

Will check this out, thanks!
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