GTA_Driver

Doing a search for a specific problem like this is an exercise in frustration.

My stop light (rear driver's side) light bulb burned out. Bought a generic bulb at local store (not dealer), put it in. Since I have the 01 Canadian A6, the lights are always on, including the rear lights.

The problem is that the driver's side tail light always glows as if the brake pedal was pressed. When I press the brakes, the right one lights up to match the left one in intensity, but when I release the pedal, only the right taillight dims.

Is this a bad bulb, or did I insert it incorrectly? Everything seems to have matched - the voltage, wattage, and even how I popped it into the housing.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

sounds like a floating ground. With the lens assembly out of the car to make it easy, clip a grounded wire to the outside of the bulb socket in question. If the thing works, fix the ground.

OTOH, think horses rather than zebras. You might have the wrong bulb, or put it in wrong. Swap the bulbs left to right and see if the new bulb behaves the same way on the pax side.

ezveedub

Make sure you used the correct bulb. Sounds like a single filament bulb in a double filament socket or vice versa.

GTA_Driver

nope, a double filament bulb. I'll reseat it again today, and swap bulbs.

SloopJohnB@mac.com

Just as easy to check/make a ground wire too.