I installed LED lights (from Pep Boys) today in the license plate. The lights were on for 30 seconds and then went out. I put the oem ones back in and now they dont work either. I cannot seem to find this buld on the "fuse diagram"......is this a fuse problem?...if so, anyone know where the fuse is?

 

By chance, did the plug come loose from the light assembly under bumper? This happened to me during a LP light change.

 

Did you buy the Error-free (CANBUS) LED bulbs with correct resistance built into the bulbs? If not, it's very likely that the car doesn't recognize the lower amp LED bulbs (it thinks that the bulb is burnt or missing); hence shutting the power to the unit. My Audi's had the same problem when I was change the license plate bulbs into LED ones. The fuse is unlikely burnt, just have to change back to stock bulbs and wait a few hours for everything to resume normal.

 

Secondly, if you are checking the bulb prior to securing it, don't. Mine only worked when secured. Probably needing a ground off the vehicle to complete the circuit . This is just my experience. I would go pull it off again to check but it is 30 degrees outside.

 

How would I get to that?

 

See, now I'm doubting my own memory....I'll go put on pants and check. We did the light install at 3am with lighter after a cop mentioned to me that it was out. Sorry if I'm leading you astray here. Give me a sec?

 

Note to self: don't drink three Red Bulls before putting on pants. So I forgot the whole assembly comes off, not like my Range Rover which my mind was reverting back to. With that said, just check the tabs that hold the bulbs, check the bulbs to make sure correct for application and not burnt out. Sounds like you are putting back in what was working before so that may not applicable. Make sure the ground is there when you screw them in, as there is not a plug so it must get ground from the screw or tight fit of the housing to a metal plate. After all that there has to be a source of electricity to the light thus a plug to the light in the bumper. Sorry for disinformation earlier.

 

Was it that complicated? I thought all needed to be done to ensure correct LED functionality was: correct bulbs, unscrew, correct polarity, and screw back in.

 

Well he switched from L.E.D. back to stock and now the stock ones don't work either. I blame Redbull for incorrect info on my first post . Mine were finicky as well.

 

Not sure about other German cars, but those of VW, Audi, Porsche family has the same "issue" with delayed resume to normal function when changing to wrong bulb and trying to revert back to stock. My friends CC, my wife Q7, my S8 all the same.

 

canbus LEDs with metal fins on top can short the lamp, blow a fuse. Look inside the stock housing, there is a strip inside that conducts the power and these canbus bulbs can touch it causing all kinds of gremlins in German cars. Its wise when looking for whiter license plate lights to replace the entire housing with a purpose built LED design.

 

Thanks everyone for the input, so does anyone know which fuse this is so I can at least check?

 

Do you still have the small paper diagram on the inside of your fuse panel cover? If not PM me and I will check for you, if you wish.

 

sometimes you have to give them sometime. It is weird but when I did mine, I had the same exact thing...after putting the stock ones back on, it too them several minutes to come on. I just left the stock ones alone after that...