wiring for defender reverse light

hi,
my new (1995) defender didn't come with the reverse light wired up.
the bulb is fine, but the 2 wires (black and brown) from the light are
not connected. there are 2 available wires, but one of the sockets is
flat, whereas both wires have round connectors. i took a pic on my
phone which explains it better:
http://tim.mackey.ie/stuff/rear_wiring.jpg

it seems to be a bit of a home-made job, there is some crude soldering
on some of the connections. my workshop manual doesn't seem to have
diagrams for the lighting circuits, can anyone point me in the right
direction? the manual said there is a switch for the reverse lights
near the gearbox, but i don't want to have to go in there yet unless i
have to!

thanks
tim

"Tim_Mac" <[email protected]> wrote in news:1143409194.527282.14970
@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> hi,
> my new (1995) defender didn't come with the reverse light wired up.
> the bulb is fine, but the 2 wires (black and brown) from the light are
> not connected. there are 2 available wires, but one of the sockets is
> flat, whereas both wires have round connectors. i took a pic on my
> phone which explains it better:
> http://tim.mackey.ie/stuff/rear_wiring.jpg
>
> it seems to be a bit of a home-made job, there is some crude soldering
> on some of the connections. my workshop manual doesn't seem to have
> diagrams for the lighting circuits, can anyone point me in the right
> direction? the manual said there is a switch for the reverse lights
> near the gearbox, but i don't want to have to go in there yet unless i
> have to!
>
> thanks
> tim
>
>

Haynes says wires to reverse light are green-brown with the second
(earth) black. Suggest you trace the wires from the fuse board using an
ammeter.

If the light does not work after you have connected the wires, the
switch at the gear box is probably kaput.

It is no big deal to change this switch (I don't think it can't be
repaired but it is not expensive). Open up the panel beneath the cetre
seat/consol and poke around. It is located to rear of the gearbox from
memory. Nothing else there with wires poking out the top anyway! There
is not enough room to get an open ended spanner on this switch and the
wires will prevent you getting a ring spanner onto it.

I got an old socket and cut a slit in it up one side with an angle
grinder. This slipped over the switch quite easily, with the wires
poking through the slot. Then I used a ratchet to screw the switch off.
You may have to move the socket so the wires don't get twisted. Bingo!
Dead easy!

Good luck.

Derry

You may also get it off with a plumbers tap wrench.