Bulbs - Brake light/Tail light P/N's

I had a brake light out and was pulled over on Saturday. I went to autozone on Sunday with the burned out bulb and asked the guy for a replacement.

He looked for a bit and handed me a 2 pack of bulbs. I went out to replace them and noticed that the other brake light was out as well. I went ahead and replaced it as well. Then I noticed that I had a tail light out.

I went back in with a burned out brake light bulb and he found me a pack of 2 bulbs. One thing I noticed was that the new bulb was a lot brighter than the other side. So, I replaced the one that was working to get even, bright tail lights.

Before I left the store, I checked all lights and everything was working.

This was Sunday afternoon. I think the tail lights burned out Sunday night driving because Monday night both bulbs were dead.

I took out my backup lights and put them in the tail light socket and that got me home without seeing Johnny Law.


BUT, since the idiot gave me the wrong bulbs.... too bright should have been an indicator, does anyone have the P/N's?

Brake lights and tail lights?

Thanks.

Brian

-J

On the 2004 the Brake and back-up sockets take the same bulb. The turn signal is the same wattage as the brake and back-up (21 watts) but is laquered yellow (because the lense is clear in that area). The tail light is 5 watts. I get Sylvanias at Advance Auto Parts and have never had a problem with the Sylvania catalog. I always get the long life bulbs, if offered for a particular application.

I do use the Golf taillight bulb instead of the one specified for the Jetta. It is the same physical dimensions, but it is 10 watt, instead of 5 watts. It is a little brighter. Life is the same, according to the spec sheets.

--Nate

Thanks.

Good info.

Brian

I put P21W bulbs in the brake, turn and reverse sockets of my 2002 Jetta TDI. It didn't come like that when I bought it. The trick to getting out the assembly is to pull it out at the top first and get it over the fold of the fabric at the top. Then pull on the bottom section and out it pops. Installation is reverse. Trying to get the assembly out by taking out the bottom then the top is tough. I tried both ways. I do wonder what the socket horizontally opposite to the backup bulb is for. Any ideas?

"I do wonder what the socket horizontally opposite to the backup bulb is for. Any ideas?"

That would be the rear fog light, used in Europe, I think. You need the Euroswitch for this:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=85368

--Nate

Unless you jump the wires to provide another red light for brakes. Search for 5 light brake mod.

compu_85 said:

-J

Click to expand...

that's an excellent picture. I can never seem to remember which is which. never seen that on here before... now to get the darn things out!