The Adventures of Cindy Li

Wed Jul 19, 2006 at 08.42 pm

LeeAnn

Thank you for posting this! I’m going to try it tonight and hopefully I’ll be able to put it all back together. You are a rock star!

Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 12.58 am

Micheline Goulart

Thank you sooooooo much! It only took about 2 minutes to do it with your instructions, it was incredibly helpful!

Sat Sep 2, 2006 at 07.39 pm

Andrew J Brignoli

I too was upset to see “Bring it to your VW Dealer” in the owners manual of my 2005 Bug.  Looked in vain for a maintenance manual.  Couldn’t find one that referenced anything past a 2000 Bug.

Your instructions were right on the mark.  It took me literally 5 minutes to change the bulb following your instructions.

Thanks.

Wed Sep 27, 2006 at 07.01 pm

tami stewart

thanks! I was so surprised when my first attmept went like, “hey , now what? Where’s the bulb?” haha.
Now I am confident I can do this myself~off to Kragens for my new bulbs!

Sat Oct 21, 2006 at 05.36 pm

Brad

Worked for me, too. Thanks for the tip! Aren’t Beetles supposed to be user friendly?

Mon Oct 30, 2006 at 11.41 pm

tideliar

...and another happy camper. You’re the #1 google hit for this! Thanks for saving me money & more grey hair.

Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 05.49 pm

wayne

thanks so much for this info. I’ve been paying to have my brake lights replaced since I’ve purchased my beetle only because the book said it was best. this job took me 10 minutes after reading your how to do it from your site.
thanks so much,
wayne

Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 04.42 am

Darryl

Thanks for providing the information about the trick that gets the tail light lens cover off the car. I figured something else was holding the tail light assembly to the car but could not figure out what is was on my own.  Thanks for mentioning the clip at the joint of the body panels.  Every time I work on something simple on that 2000 VW beetle, I break something else because the manual tells you nothing about simple maintenance.  Seems that there is a conspiracy at Volkswagen to continually keep its hands on my wallet.

Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 01.11 am

richard bray

Your website has been very helpful.
My brother purchased a VW Beetle convertible in 2006.  Recently the taillight went out.  After numerous attempts and calls to the VW dealer he ask me to go on the net.  Thank you.  The only difference on his is that the round disk to be removed in the trunk is a three inch grill work.

Fri Dec 1, 2006 at 08.55 am

10VWBobby

Hi Cindi,

You did a great job of explaining the
process. It is becoming harder and harder to access all vehicles for minor maintenance. (What a surprise).
In addition to their hourly rate you get to pay 3 prices for the replace-
ment bulb they install for you! The
owner’s manual doesn’t even list the
specifications for the bulbs used in
the vehicle. Thanks again, Bobby

Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 11.43 pm

Antonio Pachamoro

Thank you very much . My dealership wanted to charge me for 1h labor + parts ( About $ 115.00 ). Now if you could tip me how to change my window regulators ( They only last 3 years , I’ve gotten’em changed each side twice ), they only cost $ 25.00 , but labor is $250.00 + ; there should be a recall on them .....and on the window switches .

Sat Dec 16, 2006 at 01.05 am

Gary

Thanks, Cindy, for the great info.  We just cracked the tail light cover on our 2002 Beetle.  Any suggestions how to replace that and where to get a new lens cover?  Thanks.

Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 04.54 am

Mark

I am willing to walk for a mile if I don’t have to pay to park.  You know I wanted this info!
Thanks

Wed Dec 27, 2006 at 12.51 am

Lonnie Bedell

Add another to the thankful chorus. Thanks a million!

Lonnie

Thu Feb 1, 2007 at 08.16 pm

Shawn

I am going to try this on my wife’s 2005 this evening.  The only step I don’t fully understand is “The inside gap (nearest hatch back door), is a release tab/clip on the light inside between the gaps.

Insert a butter knife or something slim and pull out the casing (don’t be afraid, and it take a little force to pull it out).”  Does this mean to simply insert and pry out, or do I need to slide the knife around the light?

Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02.15 pm

Shawn

OK, the bulb replacement went fine, but I’ve since discovered a “new” problem.  When the headlights are on the break light doesn’t work, and when the headlights are off, it its much dimmer than the other break light.  Does anyone know a solution to this problem, or what might be causing it?

Tue Mar 20, 2007 at 01.16 pm

Cortney

If only I had found this sight 24 hours ago!  As I write this, my beetle is at a repair shop(the third one I called - the first two wouldn’t do it!) awaiting a new bulb…and costing my at least $40!

Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 07.46 pm

Tracy

THANK YOU!!! I can’t believe how easy you made this for me! The instructions were so great, including the photos. I would have given up for fear of breaking something and ending up at the dealer with more than just a burnt out bulb!

Thu Apr 5, 2007 at 12.53 pm

Shellee

will the volswagen service manual help with a 2003 new beetle too??? Also i was wondering if these instructions were for changing a brake light too???? Is a brake light the smae as a tail light?

Fri Apr 6, 2007 at 05.23 am

Shawn P

One comment to the Beetle taillight change chain stated

“Thu Feb 1, 2007 at 03.29 pm
Shawn
  I just realized that the tail light works.  However, once the break peddle is pressed neither the tail light nor the break light work.  Is the tail light buld different from the break light bulb?

I am having this exact problem.  How can I get in touch with the previous posting individual in the thread to see how this was resolved?

Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 04.14 pm

Lorelei Rivera

I cant seem to find the release switch/clip. What does it look like?

Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 11.46 pm

Erin

i also had this problem….but it ended up just being a fuse…so check that too if replacing the light bulb doesn’t work :)

Sun Apr 29, 2007 at 07.39 pm

Louis-Marie Decoste

Thanks a million. I was going crazy trying to change my headlight bulb. The dealertold me it would take half an hour. I decided not to leave it with him. Your site was a real blessing.
LM

Sat May 5, 2007 at 10.04 pm

phthomas

Excellent article. Slightly different on a ‘99, but helpful nonetheless. There are no indentations around the lenses on this model.

Fri May 11, 2007 at 10.15 am

Spadge

Hi Cindy

Thanks for your brilliant info - I work as an auto-electrician but had never had to change one of these before so your site saved me much embarrassment! Cost the happy owner £5 & she went off with your url on the back of my business card. Thanks again, Chris

Thu May 17, 2007 at 02.04 pm

JR

Cindy, you are so kick ass for sharing this information.  This saved me 70 bucks.  I wish I could buy you a beer!  Thank you so much for sharing this info and the pictures made it even better!  GREAT JOB

Sun May 27, 2007 at 02.36 am

VICTOR

CINDI,MY SISTER’S CAR IS STUCK IN PARK AND IT HAPPENED WHEN I SWITCH BUSTED TAIL LIGHT BULB.

Fri Jun 22, 2007 at 01.50 pm

Debbie Barker

Thanks for the tips - wish I had seen these sooner - I have taken my Beetle in so many times for this!  Has anyone had issues with their signal lights?  I have taken my Beetle in about 5 times for the driver’s side blinkers (fast blink).  Finally, VW managed to fix this after I refused to believe that the bulb was burnt out again!  Now it is happening on the passenger side.  They replaced the bulb, still fast blinking when I picked it up.  The mechanic came out and played with it, got it working.  Low and behold, it’s fast blinking again - arrrggggh!

Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 05.35 pm

Donald

Never owned a foreign car so your instructions were great!  thanks for sharing the information.

Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 01.41 am

Bob

With regard to tail light, I have read the entire discussion to date, (and after 50 years working on my own cars), the clip location still is not clear. Are you saying that it is accessed from the outside of the car, under the rubber gasket/tail light lens, near the the seam in the body panels?

My first VW, and am slowly learning to “speak VW”

Thanks,

Bob

Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 06.56 pm

Anna

Thank you! I too was frustrated when I found in the good ol’ manual to take it to the dealer! With your help, I just got done replacing my bulb… I was scared I would brake the entire light, but I didn’t… and now I’m ready to replace the other when needed! Please continue giving this much needed info…

Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 10.06 pm

Alma

Replaced the brake light in my 2002 Beetle and used the Sylvania bulb #7528. Instructions were fine except when I attempted to replace the blinker bulb in the same fixture I discovered the 7528 bulb does not fit the blinker.  Has different bayonette pins. 7528’s only replace the brake lights in my VW.

Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 11.56 pm

Bev

After looking at your directions, I instantly was able to replace both of my brake light bulbs by myself with only a flat head screw driver.  I have had to replace all the bulbs on the front of the car, just a little advice if it is extremely hard to do or is difficult to figure out then you are going at it all work, simplicity is the key, after I stopped trying so hard and over thinking, I was able to finish the job, thanks for all your help!

Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 10.42 pm

patti

I think it’s important to note that the release tab/clip is accessed from the OUTSIDE of the car. The butter knife, or a very thin screwdriver, should be inserted gently at the body seam nearest to the center of the car. After locating the seam, it takes less than two minutes to switch out the bulb(s). Thanks for your help; you saved us a long trip to the VW dealership in addition to saving us $$!

Mon Oct 8, 2007 at 12.02 am

Julie

On Thu Feb 1, 2007 at 03.29 pm
Shawn wrote:

Sorry, one more thing.  I just realized that the tail light works.  However, once the break peddle is pressed neither the tail light nor the break light work.  Is the tail light buld different from the break light bulb?

Shawn,
Dunno if you’ll get this, and it’s long past February, but here goes:

What you are describing is exactly what my lights were doing prior to my replacing the brake light bulb. It appeared fine (both elements intact) when I removed it, however, replacing it with a brand new bulb as directed, fixed the whole problem. Be sure you’re replacing the brake lamp, and not the turn signal lamp. Hope this helps… you or anyone else.

Sun Oct 21, 2007 at 03.33 am

Sally

Cindy,
Thank you. Our story is much the same as many that preceed us. We would never have known how to accomplish this without your instructions. Shame on VW.
Sally

Wed Oct 24, 2007 at 07.13 pm

jay

Hi everyone, im here in the u.s. visiting a friend who has a 99 bug and had to replace her stop tail light bulb for her and found your site.back home in the u.k a manual is available which shows you everything you need to know about keeping your bug well loved and cared for. its by a company called haynes and can be found at the following link..http://www.haynes.co.uk just follow the car maintenance section until you come to vw then just pick beetle. you can even buy it on-line. good luck bug lovers and btw i love your country. jay.p a visiting bulb changer !

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 05.00 pm

Steve B

I have the same problem as Debbie Barker.  I’ve brought my 2005 Beetle in about 5 times for a fast blinking blinker.  They repari it and within a few weeks its out again.

Anyone have a solution?

Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 09.15 am

LS450SUZ

I AM TRYING TO CHANGE ALL MY LIGHT BULBS ON MY 2000 VW BETTLE TO LED AND BLUE LIGHTS I GOT FRONT LOW AND HIGH BEAMS ALREADY AND REAR ONES ALSO BUT I ORDER SOME FORM EBAY FOR LIC- PLATE -SIDE MARKERS UNDER OUTSIDE MIRRORS AND INSIDE DOOR PANEL WELL THIER NOT THE RIGHT SIZE AND I THINK THE ONES ON THE LIC PLATE R SHAPE DIFFRENT THAN THE ONES THEY SEND ME DO U KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER TO THOSE R

Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 09.59 pm

Doug

Thanks Cindy, you have done a great service to all of us Beetle owners. I am sure ther service departments at the local VW dealers arent to happy but what a rip off for something that is so easy. Thanks again

Sun Dec 2, 2007 at 04.42 am

raidersdiehard

Cindy, thank you for creating this DIY. I had to change my wife’s passenger side brake light on her ‘02 Beetle and w/ the help of this site and another it was a breeze. The reason I needed another site was because the description and lack of photo of where to insert the butterknife to release the tab was a little frustrating. The tab is of course under the rubber molding (from the outside of the car) right about where the seam of the bumper and the rest of the car are. Make sure that your inserting the knife closest to the seam by the license plate in both left and right instances.

Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 10.12 pm

Sri

great ! thanks

Mon Feb 18, 2008 at 12.35 am

GUY INFIELD

I REPLACED MY HEAD LIGHT TODAY.  THE WEGB SAID PUSH IN LIGHTLY ON THE LEVER AND FORCE UP TO RELEASE TJHE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY.  I DID IT IT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND.  THE ASSEMBLY IS 250.00 DOLLARS - IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE LEVER FUNCTION IS A PART ON IT’S OWN,.

CAN IT BE ORDERED OR THE BUNGEY CORD HOLDING IT IN WILL HAVE TO STAY.

THANK YOU,
GUY

Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 03.20 am

Freeman

You make my day!

Tue May 20, 2008 at 07.08 pm

thom m

Thank you! It worked perfectly and saved me the hassle and $$$. The best advice was to apply a bit of force to the housing. I really didn’t think it was going to come out. After that the whole procedure took about four minutes! Thanks!!!!

Wed May 28, 2008 at 03.03 pm

Sharonr1

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I was supposed to take my daughter to take her driver’s test this afternoon and the bulb went out on the way to work.  The dealer couldn’t fit me in until this afternoon, but since I found your site and easy instructions, I was able to get it replaced.  One bulb $2.11 at O’Reillys.  I needed to find a flashlight because the 05 convertible had no light inside.

Now we just have to hope she passes. :)

Sat Jun 21, 2008 at 02.40 am

Sam

These are some great articles! I work part time at Advance Auto Parts and had a customer come in needing a bulb. I sold her the bulb and proceeded to try and put it in. I gave up after a few minutes because I didn’t want to break anything. If I had seen this site earlier, I could have had it done in a few minutes. I just wanted to add that you should always put a little dielectric grease (also sold as “bulb” grease) in the socket when you change a bulb. It keeps the moisture and contaminants out, so the bulb will last longer. Great site and thanks! BTW, it’s Advance Auto Parts, not Advanced. Just a little pet-peeve of mine.

Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 06.28 pm

Nancy Burks

I really have a question. A friend of mine accidently broke off a key in my 2003 Volkswagen Beetle and I have been trying to find a way to get it out without having to have it towed to the dealership. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks

Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 05.35 pm

Tammy

Thank you sooooooooo Much, I hate spending money when its so easy to do yourself…..with a little guidence of course! Thanks a million!

Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 03.33 am

Yadira

You have save me so much money and time.  As a mother I’m usually always on the run thanks to uyou I was able to do it in less than 10 minuts.

Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 05.30 pm

jenifer G

I can not locate the release tab/clip on the light inside between the gaps.

Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 03.47 pm

Joe

Wow.  I just changed my tail light and it works!  I couldn’t have done it without all of you.  Finding the clip is the trick.  You stand outside the car looking at the tail light assembly.  I was looking in the trunk, wheel well, under the car etc.  Work a knife under the outside of the rubber gasket that surrounds the light assembly right at the metal seam in the body metal.  If you look real closely in between the gasket and the car body you will see a small piece of silver metal.  that is the famous clip. Work the knife between the clip and the car body and the clip will snap away from the car body and the light assembly will pop out.

Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 02.06 am

Pablo

Life saver…  many thanks :o)

Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 05.57 pm

Hernan

Thanks. simple, effective and useful.
These VW Beetles are pretty hard to work on because they traded off practicality for cuteness… I would have spent a long time and broken the optics if it weren’t for your advise.
H

Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 09.18 pm

donsmitty

Cindi, thankyou,however you saved me so much time that I had enough time watch the lions game today.darn!

Fri Nov 28, 2008 at 07.47 pm

Nancy

Cindy,

You are awesome.  Thank you very much for posting this, I refuse to go to the dealer unless I have to!

I wish the beetles wouldn’t be so complicated, but you made this easy.

Cannot thank you enough!

Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 10.46 pm

ariandra

thank you so much for posting this information!!!!  it’s people like you that make life a little easier to deal!!!!

Sat Mar 28, 2009 at 05.28 pm

Richard

A friend was having trouble replacing the license plate bulb on his daughters 99 bug. He said the manual told him to take it to the dealer and i thought that was crazy. I could not find anything on the internet, so i told him to bring it to me. To remove the lens, what looks like a slot at the top of the lens is actually a tab. Take a small flat screw driver or a butter knife and pry down on tab. The tab is against the opening at the top of the lens. Place knife or driver between tab and body and pry down. It made it easier to pry the tab down and grab the tab with needle nose or small pliers and pull out. Its pretty snug. When you put it back in, put the lens in bottom first. There are two nubs or tits that fit back in two small holes at bottom of opening. Once they are in push the top in until the tab clicks. Hope this helps. Volkswagon could have at least put simple instructions in the owners manual!

Thu May 21, 2009 at 07.34 pm

jackie

hey that was great but what about teh front lights for a 2006 vw beetle i hear 2006 is way differnt

Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 03.40 pm

Debbie

The VW decal on the wheel cover are falling off my daughters car.  Where can we get replacements? Just the decal not the entire wheel cover.

Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 06.39 pm

Kristy Wentz

I did it!! I replaced my daughters brake light on her VW bug….and they told me to take it to the dealer!!!
Thanks for the info!!!

Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 09.48 pm

Lew

98 tdi beetle. tail lights problem
both tail lights are out (  the upper red ). I checked the single filament bulbs and they are ok , they blink both left and right. The lower 2 filament amber lens bulbs are ok and do show running and stopping. My license plate lights are out also. I cheched the license plate fuse and checked the license plate/ tail lights fuse. both ok Help!

Mon Mar 1, 2010 at 10.22 pm

noelle

I used your help on how to replace my front headlight and now i need to replace my tail light.. thank you so much for all your help. you have saved me two trips to the dealer an hour away!

Wed May 12, 2010 at 01.48 am

Tim

Thanks, Cindi!  I couldn’t believe it when the guy at Autozone said VW didn’t seem to want customers replacing anything!  Saved me a bunch!

Fri Jul 16, 2010 at 12.01 am

Ari

Thanks a million!!!! I could just hug you :) I got pulled over today for having my break lights out. I was so relieved to discover your site and NOT have to pay the dealer 60 bucks to do it!

Wed Aug 18, 2010 at 06.31 pm

Jacqueline

Thanks! I just used this tip to fix the blinker light on my 2005 Beetle. I was so afraid I was going to break something, but I just slowly slid the butter knife all along the edge and pried the light out enough to find the little release tabs. I have got it back together as well.
The LIGHT number for the BLINKER light is 7506 and I got 2 of them for $4.50 at O’Reilly auto parts.

Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 02.07 am

Matt

Hey thanks,

I am a visual learner so your pictures really helped.

Fri Feb 4, 2011 at 01.10 am

Ricky Johnson

Was very helpful and just like you said. Thank you

Mon Feb 21, 2011 at 02.10 am

Brittany

Thank you! I even got changed in the dark, lol

Sun May 1, 2011 at 09.47 pm

Thomas Meadows

Your advice worked like a charm.  I’ll never buy another VW.  Thanks.
May 1, 2011

Mon Jul 11, 2011 at 01.58 am

Eric Montas

Thank you! Your site came up on a Google search, and I just spent 5 minutes and $6 to replace my driver-side brake light, instead of the $48 per hour for labor at the dealership. You rock! :)

Wed Aug 31, 2011 at 03.57 pm

Kayleigh

I recently had my third brake light go out and my reg. brake light, your website is a MIRACLE. I have a 03 beetle and it has been a pain in the butt to replace the bulbs since they are constantly burning out.
I am a girl and don’t have anyone to really help with this and you are a LIFE SAVER!

Thanks for making this!

Thu Oct 20, 2011 at 04.33 pm

Gail

Thanks for the post! I accidentally tried to replace the turn signal; then realized the bulb was wrong, and then tried the other light bulb. Then it worked like a charm!

Tue Nov 1, 2011 at 06.26 pm

NaTHpa

Nice one! i had one in the garage today and got uber frustrated! I couldnt work out how it was done (made harder by the customer staring at me!) Thanks for the help C x