Audi A5 - rear bootlid light

Schorpio

Hi all,

As per the title, I've got an Audi A5, and the lights on one side of the bootlid aren't working at all.

I'd like to check that power is actually getting to the bootlid, or whether there's a problem further up the car. My question is though - can I just stick a multimeter into the pins at the boot, or would that potentially create short given that (with the bulbs not working) there's no actual load on the circuit?

Tropheus

You should be fine. At worst you could blow a fuse. Have you checked the fuses?

Another place to check would be where the wiring loom enters the bootlid. It's a common place for wiring to fail due to constant flexing.

I don't envy you, problems like this can be a bugger to diagnose.

9935452

All lights on one side not working ?
Brake park indicator fog ?
It could be a bad earth
Are they led ?

Schorpio

Thanks both.

Yep - all of the lights within the actual bootlid (park, reverse, and fog I think). No led though - just normal bulbs. The lights on that side not in the actual bootlid work fine.

Christ - I've not actually checked the fuses! Serious egg on my face if it turns out to be a simple fuse. I kind of suspect not though - the lights on the other side of the bootlid are temperamental, but they've been working fine for the past while, so I don't want to start creating problems where I don't have to!

Otherwise, I'm thinking it must be a bad earth for all of them to go. The only issue is where.....!

mickdw

I had the tail light within the bootlid go out on my A5.
On examination, I found the bulb holder rusted and while current was there, I think the very poor connection was causing the ecu to shut out the power after a few seconds.
Anyway, a good clean good it all sorted.
I did note that both sides in the bootlid were rusted while the part of the light fixed to the body had no rust issues at all.