Reverse Lights

Matt RS2000 · 30-04-2007, 08:41 AM

I can not get my Reverse lights to work!!!

Every other light is working fine. When I try to fiddle with the wires I can get them working, although the indicators stop working!!!! I would rather have indicators than reverse lights, obviously.

Any help would be appreciated or a picture of a wired tail light all connected might help.....

Thanks

monkeydog · 30-04-2007, 11:25 AM

My reverse lights didn't work because the reverse switch had lost contact with the cable, you can trace the cable back under your car into the gearbox to make sure it is connected fine.

I'm not sure why the reverse lights would interfere with indicators unless you have changed the wiring within the taillight enclosure, as I think the reverse lights are connected directly to this switch in the transmission and get all their power from there.

Matt RS2000 · 30-04-2007, 11:37 AM

Cheers. I will have a closer look tonight. And yes you are right I did fiddle with the wiring in the taillight enclosure.......
Thanks for your help!! I'll let you know how I go!!

Jimmyd · 30-04-2007, 05:19 PM

One other thing to check - if the earth wire in for the rear is not connected the lights will try to earth back through the harness.

From memory the rear earth wire is inside the boot below the lock striker near the black plastic fuel filler cover, two black wires crimped into one eye fitting with a 10mm head bolt,

Cheers

James

Matt RS2000 · 02-05-2007, 08:33 AM

I think I found the problem. The connection to the gear box is hanging loose. Will have to buy the correct connector as it is the wrong one on it at the moment...
Don't know how this can happen, but oh well at least it is an easy one!!
Shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch though......

Matt RS2000 · 03-05-2007, 12:26 AM

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought wrong. The wire doesn't seem to do anything!!!
I have no idea what is wrong, everything seems to be where it should be....

Matt RS2000 · 13-05-2007, 09:33 PM

Now my dash lights don't work!!

Please help....

fjw · 14-05-2007, 11:51 PM

hi Matt

well, I can sympathise, I'm still trying to work out why my spotties only come on when the interior light is switched on ... I did find a loose lead in a stalk connector which means my high beam flasher now works ...

But ... check the fuses first, then clean any earth leads, then hope you have a mate who is an auto leccy ...
cheers frank

Matt RS2000 · 15-05-2007, 03:17 PM

I did it!!

I now have every light working that should be working, except the reverse light. Cleaned terminals and replaced all fuses and cleaned all connections to the lights and replaced some very old bulbs in the rear lights. Still have no idea what is wrong with my reverse lights though.....

FJW I don't have a mate in auto elec....Wouldn't that make life easier!!
Thanks for the advice!!

monkeydog · 15-05-2007, 06:04 PM

Can you test the reverse switch when it's engaged with a multimeter? If it's working work your way back from there. If you can't get to the switch, you should be able to test the cable coming down from it. If both are too hard to get too, start from the taillight end and work your way back until there's voltage.
If you do manage to test from the switch and it doesn't work, work your way back to the fuse from there.

That'd be my method of attack.

If you don't have a multimeter, you could try connect some wires to a 12 globe and keep work back/forward until it lights.

I'm not sure if there's a straightforward answer as to what it would be, so fixing it will probably have to be done this way (at least to find where the fault is).

krt10 · 16-05-2007, 12:40 AM

could be your reverse switch is stuffed. ir somehow the gear lever itint hitting the buttin when put into reverse. i had trouble with lights. baught new fuses and problem solved.