09 A3 help
06-26-2009, 09:35 AM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: TO
Posts: 101
09 A3 help
Need some help...
1/ How do you uninstall the factory fog light grill to install replacement PIAA bulb? Any manual for the new grill? Is the 55W okay as direct replacement?
2/ Is replacing the rear license plate bulb with LED a simple replacement? If so, any online manual available?
1/ How do you uninstall the factory fog light grill to install replacement PIAA bulb? Any manual for the new grill? Is the 55W okay as direct replacement?
2/ Is replacing the rear license plate bulb with LED a simple replacement? If so, any online manual available?
06-26-2009, 11:42 AM
#2
Audi Forum - Posts like an S6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Regina, SK
Posts: 1,043
Re: 09 A3 help
Hey Musky,
1) I've changed the fog light bulbs on an 07 RS4, 07 S4, 08 TT, 09 TTS and 09 Q5. It all starts with removing the black plastic grill surrounding the fog lamp. The entire grill (left side and right side) will come out as one piece. On the aforementioned cars the grills pulled straight out.
You will feel a bit of resistance so I recommend trying certain areas of the grill until you find a spot that is more compliant. Each car will be different. On the 08 TT they were SUPER tight and I was afraid I was going to break something. The 07 RS4 grills popped out so easy I wondered if they wouldn't just fall out. All of the grills seemed to pull out easiest when I pulled from the inside (closest to the bumper.) I can't completely tell from the pics, but do your grills penetrate the bumper cover or are they just molded to look that way?
Once you have each of the grills off, the entire fog lamp is easily removed with a Torx (six spline star) bit wrench or screwdriver. I just can't remember if it is T20 or T25. Either way, if you have one bit, you should have the other and can try both. After removing both Torx screws from each fog lamp you can pull the fog lamp out and disconnect the harness from the factory bulb.
Replace your bulb(s) and reinstall everything in reverse order. I would recommend testing the fog lamps before you put the grills back on. Also, if you weren't already aware, never touch the glass part of the bulb when replacing halogen or xenon bulbs. The oils from your body will super-heat on the bulb causing them to blow up.
I opted to go with PIAA Plasma Yellow bulbs on all of the cars because it offered a nice contrast against the HID headlights LED DRL (on the TTS and Q5.) (Pics below.) I looked at a few different white or blue-white bulbs but didn't find any that matched the white intensity of the HID and LED DRL. Your fog lamp bulb size is H11-12V-55W if you weren't already aware.
2) I've also changed the license plate bulbs on an 07 A4, 07 S4, 09 TTS and 09 Q5. It's a piece of cake if you have the right bulbs. ECS Tuning sells the Ziza LED license plate bulbs that have the resistors built in. This is just a straight swap on the A3/TT (and Q5) with no "bulb out" codes thrown.
If you've got the hatch open and are facing it, the entire license plate light assembly should be held in without any screws. If this is the case, the light is held in by a spring on the right side of the light. Again you will feel resistance, but each light just needs to be pushed to the right and they will pop out. Disconnect the harness and take the lights out to install the new bulbs.
If you do go with the Ziza bulbs note that they do have polarity, meaning they have to be installed in a certain direction. I couldn't find any indication on the bulbs which direction the current flowed so I just installed one and tried it. It didn't work so I turned it around and it worked fine. Also note that the LED's on the bulbs need to be pointing at the lens of the light and the heat sinks need to point away (up.) I'm pretty sure this was all mentioned in the instructions with the bulbs.
Hope this helps.
1) I've changed the fog light bulbs on an 07 RS4, 07 S4, 08 TT, 09 TTS and 09 Q5. It all starts with removing the black plastic grill surrounding the fog lamp. The entire grill (left side and right side) will come out as one piece. On the aforementioned cars the grills pulled straight out.
You will feel a bit of resistance so I recommend trying certain areas of the grill until you find a spot that is more compliant. Each car will be different. On the 08 TT they were SUPER tight and I was afraid I was going to break something. The 07 RS4 grills popped out so easy I wondered if they wouldn't just fall out. All of the grills seemed to pull out easiest when I pulled from the inside (closest to the bumper.) I can't completely tell from the pics, but do your grills penetrate the bumper cover or are they just molded to look that way?
Once you have each of the grills off, the entire fog lamp is easily removed with a Torx (six spline star) bit wrench or screwdriver. I just can't remember if it is T20 or T25. Either way, if you have one bit, you should have the other and can try both. After removing both Torx screws from each fog lamp you can pull the fog lamp out and disconnect the harness from the factory bulb.
Replace your bulb(s) and reinstall everything in reverse order. I would recommend testing the fog lamps before you put the grills back on. Also, if you weren't already aware, never touch the glass part of the bulb when replacing halogen or xenon bulbs. The oils from your body will super-heat on the bulb causing them to blow up.
I opted to go with PIAA Plasma Yellow bulbs on all of the cars because it offered a nice contrast against the HID headlights LED DRL (on the TTS and Q5.) (Pics below.) I looked at a few different white or blue-white bulbs but didn't find any that matched the white intensity of the HID and LED DRL. Your fog lamp bulb size is H11-12V-55W if you weren't already aware.
2) I've also changed the license plate bulbs on an 07 A4, 07 S4, 09 TTS and 09 Q5. It's a piece of cake if you have the right bulbs. ECS Tuning sells the Ziza LED license plate bulbs that have the resistors built in. This is just a straight swap on the A3/TT (and Q5) with no "bulb out" codes thrown.
If you've got the hatch open and are facing it, the entire license plate light assembly should be held in without any screws. If this is the case, the light is held in by a spring on the right side of the light. Again you will feel resistance, but each light just needs to be pushed to the right and they will pop out. Disconnect the harness and take the lights out to install the new bulbs.
If you do go with the Ziza bulbs note that they do have polarity, meaning they have to be installed in a certain direction. I couldn't find any indication on the bulbs which direction the current flowed so I just installed one and tried it. It didn't work so I turned it around and it worked fine. Also note that the LED's on the bulbs need to be pointing at the lens of the light and the heat sinks need to point away (up.) I'm pretty sure this was all mentioned in the instructions with the bulbs.
Hope this helps.
06-26-2009, 01:49 PM
#5
Audi Forum - Posts like an S6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Regina, SK
Posts: 1,043
Re: 09 A3 help
Personally I'm not a fan of the HID kits. Most of the ones I have seen on other cars are so bloody blindingly bright. You will also have a little more hardware (igniter and ballast) on your hands to find a place for around the fog lamps. Just something to keep in mind.
06-26-2009, 01:51 PM
#6
Audi Forum - Posts like an S6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Regina, SK
Posts: 1,043
Re: 09 A3 help
Hmmm...it's just a matter of lining up the tabs with the slots. Have a close look at where they are and try to line them up as best you can before "massaging" the grill back in. I remember struggling a bit with the TTS as well.
09-04-2009, 06:45 PM
#9
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