Reverse lights constantly on

Hi everyone,

My neighbour came knocking on my door yesterday to tell me my reverse lights were on. Thinking this was a bit strange I guessed he just saw the sunlight reflecting on the lens, to my surprise and disappointment he was right!

My disco is a 97 manual 300Tdi with tow hitch. I mention this as I've read other posts about reverse lights and those details are important.

I have had the intermittent reverse light problem for some time but never bothered sorting it out as it doesn't effect the MOT and if I needed the light I would just hold the gear stick to keep it on.

I messed around with the gear stick a bit and started the car and the reverse light turned off. However a short time later after locking it up the reverse lights came on again. This time it didn't matter what I did with the gear stick or starting etc it would not turn off. Eventually after pulling some fuses I found that the 20A AUX fuse on the satellite 2 panel which provides power to the trailer seemed to turn the reverse lights off. Don't know why though?

Has anyone had this problem? there is mention of it on another thread but only a mention no solution. As you can tell I don't know a lot about vehicle electrics but am willing to learn!

This is the only post I found http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=63699

Don't know if it helps, but there is a plug on the gearbox/transmission brake assembly which is where the reversing light plugs into. Maybe its damaged/faulty/knackered. Worth a look.

Look at the tow bar electrics, give them a bit of grief when the lights are on. Its what resolved mine.

Oh and something I found out today, the temperature, rev and speedo gages are not working, any more ideas?

A nice cup of tea, and a trip to the autoelectrician.

DiscoHutch said:

Oh and something I found out today, the temperature, rev and speedo gages are not working, any more ideas?

Click to expand...

think a fuse controls them, give them a check

Just drive backwards,it will be fine!

Hi everyone.

I've pulled loads of fuses and have found 2 10amp that were fryed. Having looked at the wiring diagrams in the Haynes bible there are a few circuits which include the electrics for reversing and just looking at the fuse diagram on the steering collum flap doesn't help.

I have no idea what has caused the fuses to fry but it hasn't happened since.
Having checked the reverse switch there is nothing wrong with it it's wear in the gearbox which has caused the issue with the reverse light not turning on when in reverse and no pressure applied.

I've seen posts where people have milled the switch to allow it to pertrude into the gearbox slightly more but just don't know if its worth the effort.

Cheers

Forgot to mention, I dit a paracitic draw test after fitting the new fuses and it didn't come up with anything out of the normal range

think reverse circuit is part of wiper circuit also