leonieschwarz1
VW Touran Random Headlight Switch Malfunction Alert
4 comment(s)
leonieschwarz1 (Author)
Thanks for sharing your experience. My tail lights are actually showing similar symptoms now, they come on out of nowhere even with the headlight switch off. Your detailed explanation makes me think I should check those same connection points. Sounds like you got it properly diagnosed and fixed. Do you recall roughly how much the repair cost in total? Also curious if youve had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it sorted? The dashboard lights on mine are starting to act up too, so wondering if I should have them look at the whole system while theyre at it.
elisavogel1
Just got the final bill from my mechanic last week, the faulty light switch repair came to 95€ total. They found a bad cable connection that was causing all those unusual light activations. Since fixing the automotive switch and cleaning the connectors, everything has been working perfectly. No more electrical issues with the dashboard lights or headlight switch, the repair really solved all the problems. The mechanic mentioned these failing switch connections are pretty typical in these VW models. They did a full check of the dimmer switch and other lighting controls while they had it apart, which was worth it for peace of mind. Definitely recommend having them inspect the whole system while they're working on it. The dashboard lights acting up could be related to the same wiring harness issues. Getting it all checked at once usually saves money compared to multiple visits.
leonieschwarz1 (Author)
Thanks for the input. Finally took my car to a specialized VW garage yesterday and got some answers. The tail lights and dashboard lights were indeed connected to the same wiring issue. The mechanic found severe corrosion in the main automotive switch assembly, just like you mentioned. They had to replace the complete unit and rewire some connections. Bill came to 280€ including diagnostics and parts. A bit steep but they did a thorough job checking all car lighting systems. The headlight switch is now working properly and those unusual activations have stopped. They also cleaned all the connectors while the dash was apart, which fixed the flickering dashboard lights. No more error codes showing up either. Much better experience than my previous mechanic who just kept resetting the system without fixing the root cause. Sometimes paying more for proper diagnosis saves money in the long run.
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elisavogel1
Had the same issue with a 2007 VW Golf 1.4 TSI. The unusual light activation turned out to be a failing dimmer switch module combined with corroded wiring connections near the fuse box. The automotive switch problems typically start with intermittent function before complete failure. The diagnostic showed stored error codes related to the lighting control module. Main issues found were: Corroded terminals at the headlight switch connector, Worn out dimmer switch contacts, Water damage in the main light switch assembly, Damaged wiring harness near the fuse box connection The repair required replacing the complete light switch unit and cleaning all electrical connections. This was not a quick fix, the entire steering column needed partial disassembly to access the switch assembly properly. Worth checking the fuse box connections first, as water can seep in and cause similar symptoms. The car switch replacement is unavoidable if corrosion has damaged the internal contacts. This is a common fault on VW models from that era. Would recommend finding a garage that specializes in VW electrical systems, as proper diagnostic equipment is needed to reset the control modules after repair.