Weird Rear Light Situation

[cammmy]

Hi All, looking for some advice.

The previous owner of my car had the rear lights modified to remove the dead LED boards and replace them with sockets/LED bulbs. Long story short, the red outer lens fell off one, I bought two new (facelift) units but when I went to fit them, the harness doesn't match the lights. The weird thing is, the harness doesn't match the old non-facelift lights either (images attached). Has someone changed the plug on the harness at some point? I've ordered pig tails for the new lights, is there a wiring diagram available somewhere for these?

Thanks

[steamship]

You don't mention whether these are the outer or inner light clusters on the rear. For the outer ones, the connector on the cluster should be a 6-pin one, part number 3B0973813, with the corresponding connector on the wiring loom being part number 1J0973713. For the inner ones, the connector on the cluster should be a 8-pin one, part number 3B0972734, with the corresponding connector on the wiring loom being part number 3B0972724.

Since you're new to the forum, it's worth introducing yourself in the Introductions section, and also update your location and car details as it helps to know exactly what model/spec you're referring to.

[cammmy]

Thanks for the reply, these are the outer lights. I haven't had the inners out yet.

The car is '06 A8 L 4.2 TDi

So would someone have modified those in the past? I'm stumped as so why someone would change the plug on the harness just to then have to adapt the original lights to fit.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by cammmy

So would someone have modified those in the past? I'm stumped as so why someone would change the plug on the harness just to then have to adapt the original lights to fit.

It does appear so based on what the parts catalogue states they should be, but just as stumped as to why they would change the plug... or did they change the plug on the harness to fit the plug that came with the new internals that they fitted? The only saving grace is that at least they are proper sealed connectors.

[cammmy]

In the original post, there's a picture of the back of the light, they just attached the wires to the pins in the original socket and then potted them in place with silicone. Makes no sense.

I've ordered some pig tails and found a wiring diagram. Just need to identify the pin numbering on the new plug and I should be able to sort it.

[cammmy]

Thanks for the part number, those pigtails worked. Outer lights have been replaced, just waiting for the inners to arrive now. Hopefully those plugs haven't been hacked up.

[cammmy]

Got the inners in. Really struggled to get a decent alignment though.