Body, generic

B0239 License Plate Lamp Circuit

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

B0239 cannot be traced in any J2012 source or factory document, so its use stays unproven; the same title belongs to B0860. The licence plate lamp lights the rear registration plate and is usually wired with the tail lamps. FMVSS 108 asks that it illuminate the plate without obstruction by body parts. HELLA quotes the European rule that the plate must be readable from 25 m, with no part of it below 2.5 cd/m². Body modules today monitor lighting outputs, and HELLA's Golf 6 example shows the other side of that: after fitting LED rear lamps the module must be recoded, or it reports lamp faults. A circuit fault here leaves the plate dark, which can lead to a police stop.

Likely causes

Plate lamp bulb or LED unit failed, often from water inside the housing
Wire broken in the flexible tube between body and tailgate or boot lid
Retrofitted LED lamp not matched by the body module coding

Symptoms

  • Rear number plate is not lit with the lights on
  • Bulb warning in the cluster, where the car monitors this lamp

Repair estimate

DifficultyEasyDIY possible
Parts and labour€10–100
Time0.2–1 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

license plate lampbody wiring harness

Related codes

B0860B0237

References: law.cornell.edu, hella.com, hella.com.