Reverse light switch adjustment for a manual tranny?

[Ibuprofen]

Hey all, I did a search on this topic and found threads related to automatic transmissions but I have a manual.

My vanagon's reverse lights didn't work when I bought it and I've since installed a new reverse switch replacement into the side of the transmission. The reverse lights work! The problem is they only turn on between first and second gear, not in reverse gear.

Is there an obvious way to adjust this that I've overlooked?


Thanks.
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Filbert: 85 Westy, 1.9 AHU mTDI, LR 300 pump stock fueling, 520 nozzles.

[insyncro]

Not familiar with the autos, but the manuals and Syncro transmissions have spacers between the case and switch.
Check the old switch to see if it is still attached to it and add it to the new switch.
This has been the issue with numerous reverse and locker switches I have debugged over the years.

[Ibuprofen]

I hope I didn't throw out the old switch! There may be a spacer fashioning in my near future.
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Filbert: 85 Westy, 1.9 AHU mTDI, LR 300 pump stock fueling, 520 nozzles.

[davynavy]

Hi, did you figure it out? I have the same problem with mine. Can you simply ohm the switch out between reverse and neutral basically to test it? I have 12 volts at the wires to the switch but ohming it out didn't tell me it is closing.

[Ibuprofen]

Hrmf. I haven't addressed this yet (more pressing things showed up on the van). I never did check my old switch before I replaced it but I imagine whatever process you can use to check an open/close switch will work. You might want to remove the switch from the transmission and test it so you know it works in case it is "adjusted" wrong? Like, to test if its closing take it out and move the switch its full distance.
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Filbert: 85 Westy, 1.9 AHU mTDI, LR 300 pump stock fueling, 520 nozzles.

[davynavy]

Thanks I pulled mine tonight since I had power going there. I pushed it and the switch open close/never got continuity on the ohmeter so its failed open I guess. Headed to Always VeeDub tomorrow.

[Ibuprofen]

Right on. Let me know if you end up with an extra shim! lol
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Filbert: 85 Westy, 1.9 AHU mTDI, LR 300 pump stock fueling, 520 nozzles.

[davynavy]

Got a switch and a washer/shim from Nick at M&M auto.
I got backup lights again, thanks all

[Ibuprofen]

I still haven't figured out this annoying issue with my bus. Today I hooked up the new switch again but turned it out in 1/4 increments to see if I could get the reverse position on the shifter to happen with the reverse lights. The only place I can even get the lights to turn on is when the switch is all the way seated. The lights turn on when shifting between 1-2 and 3-4 but thats it.

Anyone know if there is another place to do adjustments for the light? I am under the impression that this isn't really something that people should need to alter except for with shims on the reverse light switch, which isn't working out for me.


Thanks.
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Filbert: 85 Westy, 1.9 AHU mTDI, LR 300 pump stock fueling, 520 nozzles.

[mcswain2332]

I know this is an old post, but did anyone ever come up with a solution? Can you purchase a washer to solve this anywhere?

[surfer d]

i am curious too about adding a spacer. i recently installed a new switch, with the single washer from the old one. Reverse lights won't come on if i have the shift lever all the way down and up. if i pull back slightly on the lever lights will come on, still in reverse gear as well...something has always felt a little loose when sifting in my van, you really need to just know where the gears are to find them.

[ledogboy]

I just dealt with this a couple of months ago. I ended up having to try a couple of different sized washer thicknesses to make it work right. It was a bit of a pain (I think I was on my third attempt before I got it right), but it sure is nice to be able to see out back again!
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1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice...

[mcswain2332]

Ledogboy, you don't happen to remember if it was on the thin side, thick side? Anything? I know this info is out there somewhere. I don't understand why the new switch wouldn't come with the washer. If I find the magic washer I'll post a pic with a measurement

[mcswain2332]

So before I left for the hardware store to get a new washer for the switch, I looked (from the car window on my way out) for the washer that fell out in my GRAVEL driveway and found it! That must be a finicky switch. I screwed it in with the washer and nothing happened. I gave it another quarter turn, (it was already pretty tight) and now it works! Anyway, here are some pics and measurements in case anyone needs to fashion something on their own.

[mcswain2332]

I'm also just noticing the phallic nature of these pics. Those calipers come in handy for all kinds of things

[calo1956]

I put back the two washers that came off the old switch, i don't know why, it didn't work either, unless i moved the shifter back and forth while in reverse. I guess this is what working on a 38 yr old vehicle is supposed to be, every job turned into a big job, or at least a time consuming one. It amazes me how everything worked right for so many years, including power to cruse on the highway!

[plummerdesign]

Solution. For any one of us who have sent our gearboxes out for rebuilding…
Use a new reverse light switch. Then once the shift mechanism is set up to work as it should, check to see if the reverse light comes on ONLY in reverse. If it comes on in BOTH 1st and reverse, you will need to place a washer under that new switch. The copper crush washer used on the oil drain plug is perfect. You will probably have an old, used one from the last oil change laying around. It now has a new use on the reverse light switch. Now the reverse light will only come on in…get this, REVERSE!
Little miracles : )
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It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9

[MMKGreenMachine]

Hi,

I realize this is an old thread and most people probably think to try this sooner than I did.... But simply swapping the wires at the switch fixed my reverse lights (i.e. the polarity had been reversed).

My issue was my reverse lights were constantly on no matter the gear. I found this thread and immediately began hoping the missing washer was my issue, but the washer was there and backing the switch out a bit did not help (i.e. it didn't need a thicker washer).

I finally thought to google what might happen if the polarity was reversed and sure enough google said that might cause the lights to constantly be on.

Again, guessing most people will think to try this on their own as a first step in diagnosing the issue, but on the off chance there is another (not so clever) Vanagon owner out there like me, maybe this will help!

For those interested in the context - I just had a rebuilt transmission put in and my mechanic connected the reconnected the reverse lights to the switch. He is a great mechanic, so I kind of assumed he would have gotten the polarity right or tried swapping the connections when he noticed the lights were constantly on.

[fxr]

Google may very well be correct for some vehicles, but the Vanagon reverse light switch is polarity agnostic. Just a switch - in the positive wire to the reverse lights.

I suspect just re-making (thereby cleaning) the contacts did the trick.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300