Reversing light switch

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chil6ep

Active Member
Posts
168
Location
Wirral
How far do I have to dig to find the switch for the reversing lights in my 300Tdi?

I know I should just start digging down until I find it but if I manage to rip all the trim off this weekend I doubt I will get it all back together and I get into trouble if WE have to go shoping in what looks like a 1/2 finished kit car!

The problem is that unless the stick is held hard back the reversing lights don't light (wouldn't generally care but I currently have to park it within an inch of a brick wall to get the nose off the road, the car would be fine if I hit but the wall has seen better days and would probably end up in nextdoors garden (which belongs to the council!)).
 
I have the opposite problem... when i take it off reverse, the lights stay on..
they eventually turn off, but i havent got round to sort it yet..
 
Ye, there is something to be said for the oldfashioned idea of turning the reversing lights on at a switch on the dash. I'm thinking it would be quicker to mount my worklight (currently magmount) perminantly at the back to use instead but that will only see me to the MOT. :rolleyes:
 
chil6ep said:
Ye, there is something to be said for the oldfashioned idea of turning the reversing lights on at a switch on the dash. I'm thinking it would be quicker to mount my worklight (currently magmount) perminantly at the back to use instead but that will only see me to the MOT. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
reversing light aint on the MOT:D
 
chil6ep said:
How far do I have to dig to find the switch for the reversing lights in my 300Tdi?

I know I should just start digging down until I find it but if I manage to rip all the trim off this weekend I doubt I will get it all back together and I get into trouble if WE have to go shoping in what looks like a 1/2 finished kit car!

The problem is that unless the stick is held hard back the reversing lights don't light (wouldn't generally care but I currently have to park it within an inch of a brick wall to get the nose off the road, the car would be fine if I hit but the wall has seen better days and would probably end up in nextdoors garden (which belongs to the council!)).
Click to expand...



If I remember correctly you can access the reversing light switch from underneath on a TDi 300, it's on the side of the main gearbox - rhs I think - and to fix the problem most find if you undo the switch, take off the washer and screw the switch back in, that'll fix it.
 
goonarmy said:
reversing light aint on the MOT:D
Click to expand...

But the fact that "all lights fitted to the vehicle operate correctly" is. In theory the pollice can pull an ambulance for having a blue flasher not working (except that the ambulance is not obliged to stop by law when running on blues, like explosives transports), or a recovery vehicle for the extra tail indicator in the roof lightbar not working.

Not saying my local garage would actually actually check the reversing lights as you say but it is my ongoing good look to get the Newbie tester whos still cuddlign his rule book.
 
yeah crawl under to gearbox and u see two wire conectors to the switch pull it off and unscrew the locking nut and the unscrew the switch out and replace and presto
I replaced mine 4 times last 8 months!! keeps breaking my gearbox is dodgy second gear grate and crunch!! but it still works! when it breaks next time i will wire the reverse lights to a dash switch
 
goonarmy said:
Wheres it say that in the MOT book? MOT Testers Manual
Click to expand...


OK looks like you have me there, I could have sworn I'd heard of someone getting done by the cops at a checkpoint for faulty reverse lights as they pulled out of the inspection bay and the reason given was that all lights fitted must be in working order (whether obligitory or not). Hey hum can't find referance to it now though so mayme not. I'd still like to see what the insurance company said if you wanted protecting for legal fees after squashing a pedestrian with no lights.
 
chil6ep said:
OK looks like you have me there, I could have sworn I'd heard of someone getting done by the cops at a checkpoint for faulty reverse lights as they pulled out of the inspection bay and the reason given was that all lights fitted must be in working order (whether obligitory or not). Hey hum can't find referance to it now though so mayme not. I'd still like to see what the insurance company said if you wanted protecting for legal fees after squashing a pedestrian with no lights.
Click to expand...

aye but a plod issue and an MOT issue are completely seperate. The old Mot rule of if it's fitted it must work went out ages ago now the rule is "if not in the testers manual it's not testable"
 
reverse lights have never been part of the mot, they're just handy if you want to see behind ya when you're going backwards. :D
 
chil6ep, If your disco has the R380 gearbox you may have a bigger job on your hands than you think. You are supposed to be able to remove the switch from under the car but I was unable to do this so had to cut out a hole in the floor to access it. Then I found even after removing the washer and replacing the switch I was only getting intermittant light with the vibration from the running engine so I had to stick the switch on a lathe and turn it down by about 2mm so I could screw it in a fraction further.

I have a more detailed write up here:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/re...landrover-discovery-1-r380-gearbox-88492.html
 
redhand said:
aye but a plod issue and an MOT issue are completely seperate. The old Mot rule of if it's fitted it must work went out ages ago now the rule is "if not in the testers manual it's not testable"
Click to expand...
Yeah and insurance might debate if the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition or not,their good like that. Lots of people stil think it must work if fitted is applicable, includeing a "mechanic" i knew:eek:My old mans disco the reverse light worked if you pushed the gear lever right back once in gear.
 
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