Reversing light improvement needed

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Cornish caddy
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Reversing light improvement needed

Post by Cornish caddy »

My Caddy maxi has darkened rear windows and only the one reverse light on the near side , would it be simple to add a couple of small led lights along the bottom of the bumper.. it's a WAV with a tailgate so not sure where to put then has anyone else found a solution ? Thanks John
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Marin97
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by Marin97 »

Following, and interested more into this: Is it possible to put LED bulb into my rear light? Images below.
https://ibb.co/BcmcnTr https://ibb.co/f1sWFzg
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STP
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Engine size/power: 1.6 CR TDI (102bhp)

Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by STP »

You would get a bulb warning error for led reverse bulbs, not sure if these can be coded out with VCP and VagHelper but should be possible. Depends on year, as mine is PQ35 which is notoriously awkward to change anything in the lighting scheme.

I'm about to try the same software to code out led front drls, let's see how that goes and will let you know.

As to the OP, wiring extra led units to the rear existing reverse lights (purple wire I think) this should be fine if original ones are left in and working.
2015 SWB Van, 1.6 CR TDI with Cruise Control, Heated Mirrors, Highline Clocks & MFD, VW Hands Free Bluetooth, Electric Windows, Reversing Cameras, DPF Monitor, Thatcham Cat 2.

My build thread: White MK3 Facelift

My DPF Monitoring Device thread: DPF Monitor
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NornIron
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by NornIron »

Marin97 wrote: Sun Feb 15, 2026 4:32 pm Following, and interested more into this: Is it possible to put LED bulb into my rear light? Images below.
https://ibb.co/BcmcnTr https://ibb.co/f1sWFzg
Yes, I hate the lack of two lights and fitted an LED bulb... no issues and no error warnings
Ich habe kein Geld!
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by STP »

What bulbs did you fit @NornIron, do you have a link?
2015 SWB Van, 1.6 CR TDI with Cruise Control, Heated Mirrors, Highline Clocks & MFD, VW Hands Free Bluetooth, Electric Windows, Reversing Cameras, DPF Monitor, Thatcham Cat 2.

My build thread: White MK3 Facelift

My DPF Monitoring Device thread: DPF Monitor
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hatman
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by hatman »

Me too/two, both of us?
2020Viper Green High Line, 150ps 6sp DSG Xenons, mfsw, reverse camera, winter pack, folding mirrors, 18” Gloss black Bola B1”s Gloss Black roof/grills
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Marin97
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by Marin97 »

I just ordered some form aliexpress, just wrote caddy mk4 canbus rear light reverse led in search bar, and as I understood as long as there is canbus word in it it shouldnt trigger any error.. should be t15 or p21w ba15s bulbs. Not sure tbh, but I ordered for caddy and tiguan and ill see soon if they work.
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STP
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by STP »

I've tried loads, all trigger the error. Canbus is a myth for bulbs. Canbus is a communication protocol and nothing to do with the bulbs. But canbus network equipped vehicles also have bulb fail detection using the bulbs resistance to detect faults.

Some LEDs have a resistor to fool the system but they get really hot, since they need to be the same resistance as for example, a 21w bulb. 21w is enough for a soldering iron to melt lead.

Saying a bulb is canbus is like saying your mouse mat is windows 11 compliant.
2015 SWB Van, 1.6 CR TDI with Cruise Control, Heated Mirrors, Highline Clocks & MFD, VW Hands Free Bluetooth, Electric Windows, Reversing Cameras, DPF Monitor, Thatcham Cat 2.

My build thread: White MK3 Facelift

My DPF Monitoring Device thread: DPF Monitor
petrev
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Re: Reversing light improvement needed

Post by petrev »

Hi,

I fitted the brightest LED bulb I could find at the time...
Autobulbsdirect - 382 Twenty20 Cree P21W 750Lumen

There may well be something brighter by now, but these work nicely.

I have fitted since 2 by getting an EU LHD RHS rear lamp cluster.

I converted one of the little tail lights furthest from the brake light to a rear fog light using a bright LED bulb and a resistor - Cut the normal feed and wire via a resistor to the LED for side function - Add the reverse light feed via a back-feed blocking diode for full power reversing function.
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