Author |
Message |
Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:10 am Post subject: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Hi folks. Couple of questions about the reverse lights. I do not think mine have ever worked since I bought my car 12 years ago, I’ve never really dug into the problem. First thing I need to check is if they are working or not (I don’t think so, but I’m sitting in the car when they should be on, so I don’t know🙄) I’m assuming the switch only gets current if the key is turned to accessory or on, correct? That’s the first thing I’m check later.
Next I know from reading the 100 post here that this is a pretty common problem? Why? If I understand the black wire runs off the harness and then I’ll seee a black fuse holder on my shroud that has a connector going to the coil. I have that. Then the wire runs out the passenger side tar board up to the switch on the nose come. (Is this visible from underneath the car? (The wires) I don’t ever remember seeing a wire near the transmission, where is it routed?) Then from the other switch a black wire runs back the same path and connects to a “splitter” where a single wire goes to each reverse light. Are these wires visible either? Or are they buried back there? I pretty much know what should be there, but not sure where I need to look for them. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busman78 Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004 Posts: 4524 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:37 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
If you have not checked whether your vehicles lights are working or not in the past twelve years then I would recommend you surrender your drivers license for the lack of being a responsible driver.
Now, to check them put the vehicle in reverse, turn ignition switch to the on position but do not start the vehicle, get out walk around to the rear the reverse lights will either be on or not. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:53 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Lol. They don’t work. I’m joking. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busman78 Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004 Posts: 4524 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
It is a simple circuit, power from the positive side of coil when ignition on, power to BU switch, when in reverse switch closes, power to lights. Power wire to switch accessible but from switch to lights once inside the engine compartment that wire vanishes behind the tar board.
Verify the fuse from the coil to the switch is still good. Easy test is pull the wires off the switch, join them together, turn ignition on if the lights work then it is the switch, if not check the bulbs, you can test if power is getting to the bulb socket, verify ground at the socket. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31378 Location: Hot Arizona
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 6:42 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Yes, turn ignition on, put gearshift fully into reverse. If lights are not on, start with basics like checking for voltage at both sides of the inline fuse, and pull the tail light lenses and check the bulb sockets too, with your voltmeter or DC test light.
Folks over the years have screwed up on the connections of the reverse light wiring during engine R&Rs.
Go under the VW, find the reverse switch, see if it has wires, and trace them rearward if they are there. This is a very simple set-up, the reverse switch is simply a continuitity switch, activated when the gearbox pushes the nub on the switch "in" to "close" the circuit. In other words, can be tested in place with ohmmeter function or voltmeter/test light.
If you need to, you can always run new wires forward to the backup light switch and then rearwad to connector. _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13848 Location: White Mountains Arizona
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Not sure if you have a 12v test light or Volt Ohm Meter =VOM. It is so easy to figure out. _________________ Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:33 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
I have a test lamp. I can see the wires going through the passenger side firewall through the hole. I can see the wire coming back also to the splitter. I can’t seem to see it on the trans. Need to crawl under more..... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busman78 Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004 Posts: 4524 Location: Oklahoma City, OK
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
All the way to the front of the trans, switch scews into the nose cone. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlmostHeavenWV_VW Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017 Posts: 1966 Location: WV
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
_________________ 1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Are the wires visible from underneath the car? Or do the wires run on top of the trans? How do you open the fuse holder? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
AlmostHeavenWV_VW Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2017 Posts: 1966 Location: WV
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Wires to switch are visible from underneath.
Assuming your fuse holder is the 'VW style ceramic style' like this one seen above the carb in this pic, you should be able to 'unscrew' the holder apart to access the fuse.
_________________ 1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jinx758 Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2014 Posts: 698 Location: Texas
|
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
My fuse holder is from a FLAPS & I have to push both sides together and then a small twist to pull apart .
As a long time bachelor ( found someone silly enuff to marry my monkey butt 4 yrs ago ) I have checked my lights monthly for decades by backing up to an empty strip mall. Easy peasy to look in rearview mirror as the lights are reflected off the glass front of the business. Dark-thirty works best.
Hope this helps ... jinx _________________ " It's not valuable unless you learn something from an experience. " Henry Ford
It's not unlike the same difference
You can't push a rope
VALVES (cold)
POINTS
TIMING
CARB (fully warmed engine)
SCRAPE ALL GROUNDS
My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Connie74 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2017 Posts: 40 Location: Tennessee
|
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:58 pm Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Hey, Almost...
Are you sure that the switch that faces to the back is the backup switch? If so, then what the heck is that other one (circled in the diagram) for? I agree, "???". |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31378 Location: Hot Arizona
|
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Connie74 wrote: |
Hey, Almost...
Are you sure that the switch that faces to the back is the backup switch? If so, then what the heck is that other one (circled in the diagram) for? I agree, "???". |
Yes, his picture is correct. The reverse/backup light switch is as he has identified it. I just re-wired mine on my 1970 and had it out of the transmission about July.
That switch is a simple continuity switch, activated by movement inside the transmission causing the switch to "close" (complete the circuit) when in reverse. This can be checked in place using a multimeter in the ohms mode, wires disconnected. _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
|
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Connie74 wrote: |
Hey, Almost...
Are you sure that the switch that faces to the back is the backup switch? If so, then what the heck is that other one (circled in the diagram) for? I agree, "???". |
seat belt warning light in later models _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
|
sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15985 Location: North Florida, USA
|
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
For clarity....
The VW (ceramic - GBC) fuse holder looks like this:
The wire wraps around the right side of the fan shroud and passes thru the hole in the firewall tin. In this pic from the right side of the engine compartment you can see the sleeved pair of wires passing thru the hole in the tin. The Y-connector in the pic is the return wire splitting into two (L & R).
The two wires dive into the tar paper and run to either taillight where it connects to the blue wire for the reverse lights. _________________ AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cellobus1 Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014 Posts: 284 Location: East Tennessee
|
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Ok this is the most recent thread on this subject, so I'm hoping for some help as I try and get these '73 Thing BU lights to work.
This is a non-stock set up. I have a double red, gemelli pasta-looking wire that has an inline fuse on one strand. The other strand is fairly permanently attached to the Left taillight 4-way connector. The other end of both of those strands are tight together as if they both attached to the BU light switch. They weren't hooked up at that end when I pulled the engine 2 months ago, in fact there were no wires anywhere near the BU switch and it looked it hadn't had anything hooked up to it for a long time.
One question I have is, does it matter which wire goes where on the BU switch?
Another is, with this setup, is the wire that comes out of the harness near the passenger side with the male spade on it moot? There was no square plastic thingy on it. It looks like it heads toward the front, but doesn't actually go to the taillight housing? Or does it originally go to the switch?
Thanks _________________ 1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5998 Location: Brooklyn
|
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
cellobus1 wrote: |
One question I have is, does it matter which wire goes where on the BU switch?
|
No. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31378 Location: Hot Arizona
|
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Just run new wires forward to the reverse light switch; that's just a contact switch, actuated when put into reverse. The in-line fuse there is a MUST ! _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
cellobus1 Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014 Posts: 284 Location: East Tennessee
|
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Reverse lights do not work |
|
|
Thanks!
Quote: |
Easy test is pull the wires off the switch, join them together, turn ignition on if the lights work then it is the switch |
It turns out the switch is bad. I'm going to wire up something manually activated. _________________ 1976 unrestored daily driver Standard bus, "Stella"
formerly, 1959 Standard bus
formerly, 1973 transporter which was 4 years old when it taught me to drive |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|