boot lights
 

have been having a problem with electrical leak ...hopefully cured but still a small loss...maybe [ the microswitch that ejects the casette in the CD stack was stuck ]

but not sure there isn't a problem on the boot lights

didn't realise that the boot lights come on when you open the boot even when no other lights are on ....but while working on the battery/fuses there have noticed that the lights were off , at least part of the time [ not really paid attention ]

today went to check battery voltage , opened boot , noticed lights came on .alles gut
tried the effect of pushing in the two micro switches on the boot lid ...lights stay on even after a minute or two !!!!

is this correct ? is there a timer on this ? can't imagine why there should be

update ; just went and opened the boot to make further check on battery voltage ...not only had the lights gone out , they didn't come on !!! tried flicking both microswitches ...no difference ; presuming feed is from central locking module , checked central locking operating ...OK
had a look at the fuse reference in the handbook ....boot light not mentioned ! anyone know ?

m'aidez , m'aidez ! [ or mayday , mayday if you prefer :D ]

I'd pop the fitting out and put a volt meter across the bulb and bulb holder as a first step. I've had bulbs go that are tempramental before complete failure. And the fitting is a bit crappy too, so it might be on the blink and need tightening up/cleaning. Simple stuff first :)

I had my boot lights fail a while back; I'd blown a fuse while swapping bulbs. :Confused:
It also stopped the indicators flashing when locking/unlocking so that's a quick test.

IIRC it was a fuse in the drivers footwell, rather obscurely listed in the handbook - I missed it totally until someone posted the answer here!

as stated , all the lights came on , so unless all 3 festoon bulbs are failing at the same moment can't be that ; same with the microswitches , not likely both fail at the identical moment ; and central locking works correctly so can't be the fuse

been thinking about it , need to know if there is a delay on the boot lights going off...same as interior lights ; is there , and how long is the delay ? my theory is that all these lights are controlled from the central locking , and when I held the microswitches in it wasn't for long enough

in which case the problem must be in the feed from the central locking ...failing intermittently , maybe shorting out in the boot lid or the connection at the pump

Different fuse, my C/L worked fine, just the indicators didn't flash to confirm.

The only delay I'm aware of is that if you leave the boot open "eventually" the boot lights go off. It's a fair few minutes though.

Starting with the bleeding obvious, there isn't a switchable light in the boot which is switched permanently to on by mistake is there? Just a thought. . .

no , no switchable light in the boot

so, consensus of opinion is

open boot
3 lights come on
after a long time they will switch off [ maybe whatever does that is the reason they won't switch on again ...on the pump maybe ?]

can someone try the effect of pressing in the 2 switches immediately
? does that turn off the lights ? it didn't when I tried it , but why not ?...that's the same as shutting the boot lid :mad: ; or maybe they are then supposed to go off after a pause like the interior lights ?

anybody tried taking off the boot lid lining ? is that easy ?...can't see how it is done ; maybe having a look at the wiring there is a good idea , could be there is a loose connection

thanks for your offering chaps , much appreciated

What switches are you talking about?

What model of car do you have, e.g. PF or FL?

The boot lining is very easy to remove, just lots of screws and a couple of nuts.
(take out warning triangle, remove retaining nuts in handle, remove all screws holding trim in place - there are a fair few and they are well-disguised.)

PF or FL ? too technical for me , I'm new here :D

it's a 2000 A8 3.7 sport quattro tiptronic facelift ,,,does that help ?

the switches I refer to are at the back of the boot lid and get closed when you shut the lid , presumably to switch the lights off ...except they don't when I push them in !

and screws well disguised ? they must be , I didn't notice any !

just worked it out ...pre facelift and facelift ?

No switches I know of, are you looking at the black cushioning springs?
Screws have felt-covered heads, look harder. :ROFL:

I gave up trying to suss out the boot lights. Changed all bulbs to LEDs and they stopped working all together!

I now have the closest one as LED and the other 2 festoons and it all works OK.

If I remember I'll stick a grandwean in and see how long they take to go out :D

Mine are all (3) LED and work fine. :Confused:

All to do with timing.... I think :)

cushioning springs !!!! no wonder that they don't turn the lights out :o

so what switches the lights on when you lift the boot lid ? maybe a mercury switch like the bonnet on my 5 cyl 20v

but then the lights would go out when I shut the lid ...how do I find out if they do :(

could be there isn't a timer after all [ as I said before , can't see a logical reason for one ], and the problem is just a faulty feed or switch , sometimes the lights come on and sometimes not , also why the lights will go off after a long time

maybe you have the right idea sloss , if at first you don't succeed ....give up ; what's a grandwean anyway ?

I think there's a switch linked to the boot catch somehow.
No doubt someone here will have the details, I've no idea where it is.

Wean - scots for child.

The microswitch is in the boot catch itself for the lights if I remember rightly.

as they say where I live ....voila !

the microswitch IS indeed in the boot catch , opened boot , quick spray of silicon oil , locked /unlocked it a few times [ unlocks by pushing the button as usual ] , lights come on every time !!!!

even more important I shall be able to pursue my search for a current leak by lifting the lid and locking the catch to put the boot lights off so no current drain from them

and HP ....I opened the barn door a bit wider to let in today's brilliant sunlight ....and found a lot of well disguised screws ; funny that

thanks to all for your help