My B7 (2005.5-2008) Audi A4’s brake lights stopped working a few weeks ago. I put off changing them often because I thought it would be tough. I’m delighted to report that it is as easy as pie, just takes a few minutes, and only requires a flat head screwdriver! Almost anyone can complete this replacement because it is so simple.
- Beginner level of ability
- flat headed screwdriver is required equipment (a smaller one)
- The 2005.5-2008 B7 Audi S4 and 2005.5-2008 B7 Audi RS4 are also included.
- Five minutes are required.
- You’ll need two 7506 bulbs as parts. Any 21 watt 7506 ST bulbs will work, however I picked these Sylvania Silverstar bulbs because they are 20% brighter.
The procedure is really easy. You only need to remove one screw with your flat head screwdriver before you can gently pull off the light, take out the old bulbs, and put in the new ones. I advise changing at least two bulbs at once because if one goes out, the other will probably follow soon after.
You’ll find the cover right along the edge of the tail light, and you may remove it by opening your trunk and using your flat head screwdriver. Always start from the top while prying something off because the topit is attached at the bottom.
After removing the cover in step 1, you will be able to see that there is only one screw holding the tail light in place. With a few rotations of your flat-headed screwdriver to the left, the screw will easily come out. You’ll notice that I changed screwdrivers; this was primarily due to the fact that the one in the previous picture being used was too big, so I had to use a smaller one.
You must exercise caution in this stage. Pull the tail light slowly away from the body of your automobile using your hands. Don’t yank too hard from the inside edge. You don’t want to break the two connectors on the light’s outer border. Once the light is pulled sufficiently away from the car to allow you to grip from the center, pull a little from the inner edge, a little from the outer edge, and so on.
The two holes in the body that can be seen above and the two prongs poking out of the tail light that can be seen below are the two clips keeping it in that you DO NOT want to break:
Remove the tabs in Step 4:
Once the pieces are separated, unplug the electrical harness and then push the tabs to remove the black backing from the tail light housing, revealing all of the bulbs. The bulbs from the brake light assembly can be removed by simply pushing in the two tabs (one on top and one on bottom):
The bulbs are rotated about a half turn to the left to twist out. Since it had turned black (see the upper right corner), the burned-out bulb in my case was simple to identify, but as I mentioned, you might as well replace them both.
You may as well clean while you have the taillight off. To keep my car looking extra clean, I used a spray detailer to remove the dust from below the tail light:
Align the nubs of the new bulbs, then turn them a quarter turn to lock them in place. Check it out briefly before tightening the tail light back in. You don’t even need to go in your car to accomplish this; simply pressing the lock button will turn on the tail light. Just leave the brake light housing rest on the ledge after plugging it back into the vehicle. Then, press the lock button to make sure everything is working.
Reinstall the light by pushing in the two prongs along the edge and tightening the screw from the trunk once you’re done. Replace the carpeted cover after the screw is securely fastened.
There it is. You can now quickly and inexpensively replace your burned-out tail light bulbs for a total of roughly $6. According to what I’ve read, the dealer charges somewhere between $40 and $80, so that’s a fantastic price that just needs a small amount of work.
In This Article...
Describe the middle brake light.
The use of headlights, taillights, fog lights, and stop lamps are all governed by various rules, but what exactly is a third brake light and what does it do? Three functions of automotive lighting are vision, visibility, and communication. For instance, this license plate bulb illuminates the license plate, making it easier to identify your car.
- Headlights help you see better by illuminating the road and traffic signals at night and increasing your visibility to other drivers, which is important between an hour or so before sunset and an hour or so after sunrise as well as in rain, snow, or fog.
- Turn signals and stop lamps alert other drivers to your intentions so that they can respond appropriately when you turn or brake.
- Additionally, your vehicle’s front and back are indicated to other drivers by white, amber, and red lamps.
What part does the third brake light play in all of this? The third brake light is a communication device, but we’re not using Morse code, to put it simply.
What Is a Third Brake Light in Relation to Stop Lamps?
All vehicles are required to have stop lamps, as stated in the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. They are mounted in pairs at the vehicle’s rear corners and are commonly referred to as brake lights. Since 1986, all automobiles in North America have a third brake light. Informally known as the center brake lamp, high-level or eye-level brake lamp, cyclops brake light, or safety brake lamp, this is known legally as the Center High Mount Stop Lamp, or CHMSL.
The CHMSL provides the same braking indication as stop lamps at corners, but its positioning and use add an additional measure of security.
- The third brake light is placed higher than the corner stop lamps, making it easier for other cars to see it. The center brake light is typically positioned on the centerline of the car, however if it has split back doors, it could be skewed.
- Most cars include an eye-level brake lamp that steadily illuminates whenever the driver applies the brakes. While the blinking stop lamp on either corner of some vehicles with combination stop-lamps/turn-signals denotes the planned turn or lane change, the consistently illuminated CHMSL signifies braking.
- A blinking third brake light could mean panic braking or initial braking, depending on the car.
What Is a Third Brake Light’s Effectiveness?
Reduce the frequency and severity of rear-end collisions by increasing visibility and driver-to-driver communication with the third brake light. It’s challenging to assess the CHMSL’s effectiveness in these areas after three decades of use. Even yet, since accidents, including rear-end collisions, happen often, anything that increases your visibility to other drivers is a benefit. Verify that the third brake light operates as planned.
Visit NAPA Online to see the full selection of lighting products or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare stores for routine maintenance and repairs. Visit your neighborhood NAPA AUTO PARTS store to speak with an experienced specialist for more details on third brake lights.