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Reverse lights, where they gone?!

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:06 am
by BIGJO
Hello people, got a problem......MOT's due in 2 weeks & need to prep my car for it. My reverse lights not working, think there is a wire loose or something in the gearbox. Does anyone know what could be the problem? The bulbs are fresh & fine.


Many thanks, Jo.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:09 am
by Sanchez
Get under the car and look for the switch which sticks out the side of the gear box. It has a wire which goes though to the bottom of the gear knob in the cabin. Check its all attached.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:11 am
by cliffybabe
Check under the the gear gator cover and make sure the plugs in tight

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:14 am
by BIGJO
Thanks fella's. Will have a look tomorrow :wink:

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:18 am
by cliffybabe
Mak eya laugh my dad was under my car messing about witht he gear bushes, I took the car out afterwards and had no reverse lights no rev counter fuel gauge or temp.

My dad had nocked the wires down for the reverse signal wire and the drive sharft pulle the wires clear off :cry: :cry:

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:18 am
by Brianmoooore
Lift up the gear lever gaitor, find the two pin plug and socket down by the right hand side of the gear lever, pull it apart, and short together the two pins on the side that doesn't go down through the grommet around the gear lever. Switch on the ignition, and the reverse lights should light.
If they do, then you almost certainly need a new reverse light switch. Lives high up on the right hand side of the gearbox, and is easy to change, although a bit difficult to get at.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:22 am
by BIGJO
Coolio Brian! U know your sh*t! Will holler back if i have any problems (tomorrow)!


Thanks again peeps, feel sorry for cliffybabe though!


Jo.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:24 am
by cliffybabe
BIGJO wrote: Thanks again peeps, feel sorry for cliffybabe though!
This was a while back its all cool now though, cheers though fella, Moral of story dont let dad touch the car :twisted:

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:11 am
by polwutna
Reverse lights aren't part of the MOT anyway dude.... though they help to see whats behind you when going backwards in the dark :D

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:19 am
by BIGJO
Tell me about it! I find it well hard to park at night. Have to be sooooooooo careful i don't kerb my rims! LOL, i thought not having reverse lights would fail the MOT. At least that's one of my list :wink:


Regards, Jo.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:21 pm
by BIGJO
Hello guys, having problems with the reverse lights working. Is it that white socket?


http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0478po7.jpg


Regards, Jo

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:35 pm
by jon_pure_british
ive been using my fog lights to reverse into my narrow drive at night. actually, when i got the car, the reverse lights didnt work then. so ive never had reverse lights on my car ;) but its the same problem mentioned here, now i know about it, ill fix it, but the car is in the garage at the mo, so thanks all that posted help to this topic :D

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:45 pm
by cliffybabe
BIGJO wrote:Hello guys, having problems with the reverse lights working. Is it that white socket?


http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0478po7.jpg


Regards, Jo
Thats the plug with the two wires

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:40 pm
by BIGJO
Okay, well do i need to replace the socket? The reverse lights still don't seem to be working?


Jo.

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:45 pm
by cliffybabe
BIGJO wrote:Okay, well do i need to replace the socket? The reverse lights still don't seem to be working?


Jo.
Nah that plug is on the gear box mate, its a bitch to get to though :cry:

Re: Reverse lights, where they gone?! :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:06 pm
by Sanchez
you need to change the switch on the gear box. If you jack the car up at the front then slide under from the side of the car and locate the switch
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=23&fg=15
its number 18 but not that good location identifier, but thats what it looks like. they costs 5-6 quid new. Need a C spanner to undo, think its a 12mm.

If it wasnt raining id photo it under the car but i live in scotland and its pissing down.