Vehicle: 1997 A4
Problem: Rear license plate lights no longer work
Tools: #10 socket, #2 Philips screw driver, torx set
Parts: 8D0 943 022 A, 8D0 943 022
Standard disclaimer: I'm not liable for the stupid things you do!
Ok, lets get started. First you will need to remove the 9 felt covered screws from the trunk lid. Once you have removed those, remove the two Philips screws inside of the trunk lid handle. The felt liner should pull away, although you may have to wiggle it around to get it to free itself.
Once the liner is removed, you will need to remove the two nuts from the locking cylinder mechanism.
The next step is to remove the two torx screws that hold the light molding in place. They are located on either side of the locking cylinder mechanism. You should see an access hole through the sheet metal.
At this point you will need to unplug the two wire connecters. I used a small flathead screwdriver to pry the connectors off. As you can see mine were pretty badly corroded!
The entire light assembly should pull off the trunk now. Remove the two screws holding on the clear plastic covers for the lamps. On the back of the light assembly are four screws that hold the lights in. Remove them and the lights should pull out. As you can see, more corrosion. One of the contacts is completely gone!
New light:
The next step is to reinstall your new lights into the trim piece.
From this point on everything is in reverse. Hope this helps somebody down the road.
Fixing Your License Plate Lights by Jestnomen
