TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1973 Thing Reverse lights

Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:03 am

Hey Everybody!

My 1973"s Things reverse lights dont work (i'm new to VW's) and I'm not sure where to find the reverse light switch, seems all is hooked up at the taillights, cleaned up a few grounds, no luck. I didnt see anything in the shifter area or on the transmission that looks like a switch (which is usually the culprit) didnt see anything around the trans that has any wires going to it. (For all I know it could have been left off the car).

So, Where is the reverse light switch on these THINGS!?!

My THing manual isn't helping either. The wiring diagram is "general" at best, & since I dont know what I'm looking for, I'm not getting anywhere.

Just changed the trans oil and checked around, saw some wires but
it appeared they just ran to the engine bay, I'll need to jack it up good and triple check but I thought i would ask all you THING experts.

Thanks to all that helped me fix my Carb/Idling problem too!!
Just did my first car show with the THING, I drew a good crowd and was the only VW/Thing there. Kept hearing, "I haven't seen one of these since..." I didnt realize these THINGS were that much of a conversation piece.

Well, Appreciate all the suggestions & help.
Thanks,
Tom

Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:07 am

Crawl back under the car-near the front of the tranny the nosecone area) there should be a switch screwed in facing the front of the car on the passenger side. It kind of looks like an oil pressure switch but it has two male spade. Two wires come off of this-one goes to the reverse lights and the other goes to the + side of the coil. The coil wire is probably not hooked up. The coil wire should also have a fuse in it somewhere so if yours is hooked up the fuse may be blown. Simple as that.

Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:45 pm

Well, Thank you! That does sound pretty easy. Although, I dont remember seeing any wires going to the trans, hopefully they are just unhooked and not completly missing.

I will venture another "crawl", be easer now, got some nice car ramps to get me some more working room & I know what I'm looking for!!

I appreciate the response, wish me luck (that it's all still there to be hooked up).

Thanks,

T.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:00 am

Hey All,

I got the reverse lights working, it was a blown fuse, I didnt see
the fuse holder as it was tucked in behind the carb.

Thanks, I'm working and it was an easy fix!

T.