LED Tail Lamp Bulb Out Warning Fix - DIY Writeup

needforsleep · 03-19-2006, 06:48 PM

This writeup will show you how to remove the bulb out warning in the cluster if you have purchased KaTuning's LED Tail lamps (sold by TMTuning.com). Not sure if Topauto.de's tails are the same, but I suspect they are.

The skill level is about a 5/10 with soldering ability needed.
10 = Master tech
5 = Average Garage monkey
1 = 10yr old son's ability

The equipment you'll need is:
+Wire Cutters
+Pliers
+Soldering Iron
+Solder
+18-20 Guage wire (12 inches total)
+2 100ohm-150ohm 5W-10W ceramic coated resistors
+Heat shrink (various sizes)
+4 Squeeze Connectors

Start off by cutting four 3" wires. Strip only one end of each wire to expose about 1/2" of wire. Then trim the resistors so that only about 1/2" of the wire coming out of each end of the resistor is showing. Next wrap the wires around the ends of each resistor.

Next solder the wires to the resistors.

Next cut some heatshrink and use the base of the soldering iron to heat up the heatshrink.

Next cut some larger heatshrink and shrink it over the Resistor.

Next use the pliers to clamp the wire squeeze connectors onto the BLACK and GREEN/WhiteStripe wire on the LED Tail Lamp. The Black wire is the ground wire and the Green/WhiteStripe wire leads to the LED's for the running light. The wires are the same for each tail lamp.

Now you're done.

Here's what the Running Lights look like installed on the car with NO Bulb Out Error.

With Brake Lights on:

With Hazards on:

neverfollow01 · 03-19-2006, 06:57 PM

heateris · 03-19-2006, 07:22 PM

CZA4 · 03-19-2006, 07:38 PM

MB The Body · 03-19-2006, 08:09 PM

Matt Devo · 03-19-2006, 08:26 PM

needforsleep · 03-19-2006, 08:56 PM

stripping so that it doesn't stick out.

They fit well, there was never an issue there.
I think the water issue is due to the trunk and how it's designed. It's designed to allow the water to flow down the sides near the seam. The stock tails and the LED tails both have the stock wire harness exposed to water. The LED tail is sealed up very nicely in the rear and I don't see how water can get into the wiring.

The bottom line is that the stock tails let water in too, I've seen it, so it's not an issue for me.

The trimmed weather stripping is still an issue for me because if you look at it up close you can see where it was trimmed. That look was not meant for an Audi, it's got to be perfect.

CZA4 · 03-19-2006, 09:13 PM

needforsleep · 03-19-2006, 09:42 PM

Bronze · 03-20-2006, 07:09 AM

03-19-2006, 06:48 PM	#1
needforsleep Member Account #: 29024 Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22,590	LED Tail Lamp Bulb Out Warning Fix - DIY Writeup This writeup will show you how to remove the bulb out warning in the cluster if you have purchased KaTuning's LED Tail lamps (sold by TMTuning.com). Not sure if Topauto.de's tails are the same, but I suspect they are. The skill level is about a 5/10 with soldering ability needed. 10 = Master tech 5 = Average Garage monkey 1 = 10yr old son's ability The equipment you'll need is: +Wire Cutters +Pliers +Soldering Iron +Solder +18-20 Guage wire (12 inches total) +2 100ohm-150ohm 5W-10W ceramic coated resistors +Heat shrink (various sizes) +4 Squeeze Connectors Start off by cutting four 3" wires. Strip only one end of each wire to expose about 1/2" of wire. Then trim the resistors so that only about 1/2" of the wire coming out of each end of the resistor is showing. Next wrap the wires around the ends of each resistor. Next solder the wires to the resistors. Next cut some heatshrink and use the base of the soldering iron to heat up the heatshrink. Next cut some larger heatshrink and shrink it over the Resistor. Next use the pliers to clamp the wire squeeze connectors onto the BLACK and GREEN/WhiteStripe wire on the LED Tail Lamp. The Black wire is the ground wire and the Green/WhiteStripe wire leads to the LED's for the running light. The wires are the same for each tail lamp. Now you're done. Here's what the Running Lights look like installed on the car with NO Bulb Out Error. With Brake Lights on: With Hazards on:

03-19-2006, 06:57 PM	#2
neverfollow01 Junior Member Account #: 86230 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,298	wow...they look great. nice job __________________

03-19-2006, 07:22 PM	#3
heateris AudiWorld Senior Member Account #: 75221 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,621	nice work! __________________ GIAC FX ~ AWE exhaust ~ APR TIP w/ samco boost hoses ~ K&N ~ Koni/neuspeed suspension ~ 18" fliks/BF Gdrch SS A/S ~ APR snub mount ~ B&M SS ~ podi ~ RS4 pedals ~ 3.0 front brakes ~ hawk pads all around ~ european xenon headlights ~ black out grill trims ~ painted front bumper w/ zender add-ons ~ S4 door blades and rear bumper ~ ebay spoiler ~ 40% tint <a href="http://www.dvagonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=507">the history of my car </a>

03-19-2006, 07:38 PM	#4
CZA4 Junior Member Account #: 63072 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 587	They do look really good, very tempting

03-19-2006, 08:09 PM	#5
MB The Body Member Account #: 39591 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 109,704	you did a great job !

03-19-2006, 08:26 PM	#6
Matt Devo Senior Member Account #: 52813 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6,875	what about other issues - fit, water tightness, etc....any resolution there? __________________ ------------- 2002 A4 1.8T 5M. 130k miles and counting AIM/Gamertag: denimA4turbo

03-19-2006, 08:56 PM	#7
needforsleep Member Account #: 29024 Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22,590	I am going to strip off the weather stripping and put new stuff on. I trimmed the existing weather stripping so that it doesn't stick out. They fit well, there was never an issue there. I think the water issue is due to the trunk and how it's designed. It's designed to allow the water to flow down the sides near the seam. The stock tails and the LED tails both have the stock wire harness exposed to water. The LED tail is sealed up very nicely in the rear and I don't see how water can get into the wiring. The bottom line is that the stock tails let water in too, I've seen it, so it's not an issue for me. The trimmed weather stripping is still an issue for me because if you look at it up close you can see where it was trimmed. That look was not meant for an Audi, it's got to be perfect.

03-19-2006, 09:13 PM	#8
CZA4 Junior Member Account #: 63072 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 587	Didn't someone have the same set with no weather stripping issues?

03-19-2006, 09:42 PM	#9
needforsleep Member Account #: 29024 Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22,590	yes and I think they were purchased from somewhere else though.

03-20-2006, 07:09 AM	#10
Bronze Senior Member Account #: 61481 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,098	Nice work! A little heavy on the solder. "The bigger the blob, the better the job." ;-) __________________ Bronze 2002 A4 1.8T M/T quattro Brilliant Black/Ebony APR Stage 1, snub, TIP, 710N DV Neuspeed Short Shifter Koni FSD/Eibach/H-sport S4 sways B5 S4 front brakes, Porterfield R4S Stoptech SS lines Dunlop SP Sport 01/Yokohama AVID H4S

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