Volkswagen Vanagon Rear lights are not working Inspection at your home or office.

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Rear lights are not working Inspection Service

How much does a Rear lights are not working Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Volkswagen Vanagon Rear lights are not working Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1984 Volkswagen VanagonL4-1.6L DieselService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1991 Volkswagen VanagonH4-2.1LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1982 Volkswagen VanagonL4-1.6L DieselService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1983 Volkswagen VanagonL4-1.6L DieselService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1984 Volkswagen VanagonH4-1.9LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1985 Volkswagen VanagonH4-1.9LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1990 Volkswagen VanagonH4-2.1LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1987 Volkswagen VanagonH4-2.1LService typeRear lights are not working InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Volkswagen Vanagon Rear lights are not working Inspection prices

Rear lights or tail lights, are an important safety feature on your vehicle, especially when driving at night or in bad weather. These lights let other drivers know where you are on the road and illuminate brighter to indicate when you are braking. When rear lights fail, not only can it be dangerous for you and other drivers, it can also result in a citation from a police officer. If you notice an issue with your rear lights, you should have it inspected immediately.

How this system works:

During the day time, or when the headlights are off, rear lights only illuminate to indicate when a driver is braking. At night, or when the headlights are turned on, the rear lights illuminate constantly to let other drivers know where you are, and illuminate brighter when braking. Your rear lights are controlled through the same switch that controls the headlights. Power is channeled through a relay to the rear lights, illuminating them when the switch is engaged. A brake light switch, which is typically connected to the brake pedal, illuminates the brighter brake lights when the brake pedal is pressed.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Blown Fuse: As a first resort, a mechanic should expect the corresponding fuse for your rear lights. When a fuse blows, it prevents the circuit from completing, in this case preventing the rear lights from illuminating. Sometimes when a taillight lens cracks or breaks, it can allow moisture to enter the lens and cause a short circuit, blowing the fuse.

  • Burned Out Bulbs: In the case where only one of your rear lights appears to be out, the cause is most likely a burned out bulb. When the filament breaks inside a bulb, it cannot illuminate the gas inside the bulb. A burned out bulb will not affect the circuit of the entire rear light system, and the other rear light should continue to function normally.

  • Bad relay: A relay transfers power from the battery to the lights themselves, but when a relay fails, the connection is unable to be completed. A relay may also fail because it is not grounded properly. A wire that is not grounded properly is unable to protect the circuit and provide an outlet for excess charge that build up. A vehicle with a bad relay or bad ground may not be able to successfully power your rear lights.

  • Bad Brake Light Switch: If the rear lights illuminate normally but do not become brighter when braking, the brake light switch may not be functioning properly. The brake light switch circuit is completed when the brake pedal is pushed, but if the switch has been pushed out of place or is not connecting properly, the brake pedal may not be able to complete the circuit, meaning that the lights will not illuminate.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine why your tail lights have failed. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the nature of the failure and the cost of any repairs that need to be made

How it's done:

When checking electric components on your vehicle, especially, fuses and relays, the mechanic will bring a multimeter which will help him or her diagnose what specific component has failed. The mechanic will begin by examining the back of the car for any superficial damage like broken tail light covers, and loose, or frayed wiring. If there is no superficial damage, the mechanic will then begin to examine the different components along the electrical circuit.

The mechanic will begin inspecting the various electrical components of the vehicle by looking at the fuses. If he or she suspects a blown fuse, they will remove the corresponding fuse for the tail lights to see if it is blown. If so, the mechanic will then replace it with a fuse appropriately rated for the amperage.

If only one of the tail lights appears to be out, the mechanic should check to see if the unlit bulb is burned out. Over time, bulbs will eventually fail and need to be replaced. The mechanic will check the filament in the unlit bulb to see if it is broken. If so, he or she will replace the bad bulb with a new one.

If the bulbs and fuses appear to be working properly, the mechanic will then check the corresponding relay for the tail lights. Using a multimeter, the mechanic can check the resistance of the relay. If it is not functioning properly, the mechanic will replace it and rewire it to the existing connections.

If the tail lights seems to be functioning properly, but the brake lights are not working, the mechanic should inspect the brake light switch. If the brake light switch is not responding to the brake pedal, the mechanic will remove the old switch, replacing it with a new one. The mechanic should then check to make sure that the brake lights are working and responding to the new switch.

In the case of any repair, the mechanic will make sure that he or she completes the necessary repairs and ensure the functionality of your new components. In the event that an issue with the taillights has triggered an error code, the mechanic will use a code reader/scanner to clear the code and its corresponding light.

How important is this service?

Tail and brake lights are designed to help other drivers see you on the road and if they are not working, you may be at an increased risk for an accident. A police officer may also cite you for not having functioning tail lights in the event you are pulled over. If you notice your tail lights have gone out, or are not working properly, you should stop driving the car and have it inspected by a mechanic.

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Excellent Rating

(15)

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Scott

36 years of experience
902 reviews
Scott
36 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-2.1L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Phoenix, Arizona
Very thorough, took his time to go over his findings- very pleased!

Gregory

15 years of experience
21 reviews
Gregory
15 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-2.1L - Alternator Belt - Rio Vista, California
Thank you Gregory! He was on time and very personable and trustworthy. My first My Mechanic job and it was very well done. I will be back. Thanks. Ron

Enrique

21 years of experience
244 reviews
Enrique
21 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-1.9L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Orlando, Florida
We used Enrique for a pre-purchase inspection on an older Westfalia. He did an incredibly thorough job checking out the vehicle, taking over a 100 pictures for me to see what was going on with the car. His recommendations saved me money!

Kenneth

20 years of experience
781 reviews
Kenneth
20 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-1.9L - Smoke from engine or exhaust - Los Angeles, California
I am so impressed with the knowledge that Kenneth has and explained the problems with my 1983 VW Westfalia Camper in such a way that I learnt a lot about this Van's engine. He spent enough time to check, detect the problems and made suggestions how to fix the issues. I will surely call him back in a week for a re-check. He is courteous, professional and a good teacher.

Excellent Rating

(15)

Rating Summary
15
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Number of Volkswagen Vanagon services completed
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services done by our mechanics
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