Reverse lights out!

[stevieyid]

My reverse lights are not working. Bulbs are fine. Any ideas on what else to check? I will check the circuit board and see if the circuit is braking but both lights are not working so im thinking its something else. Is there a switch or something on the gearbox? If so where abouts is it? It is possible i have disturbed it in my attempt of fitting the short shift kit. Thanks for your help

[4WheelDrifter]

IIRC the reverse light switch should be on the gearbox somewhere. Just a 2 pin switch i think.

[s2driveruk]

check the connector on the light board is not corroded, if its been wet a few times they get into a right mess

[stevieyid]

Is there a connector on each light board?

[AUDI COUPE 20V]

id check the gear box switch connector or bridge out the connector and see if they come on or a fuse

[stevieyid]

Where abouts is the gear box switch? i have a look and cannot find it? Ill check fuses to.

[Mikes2]

I would also check the wiring into the tailgate

[HPmuirt]

Is there a connector on each light board?

err...YES

The reverse lights are on fuse 12 (rated at 15A) and share that fuse with your instrument cluster lights, so if they illuminate, then it ain't your fuse.

I would check the light boards. As s2driveruk said, if they get wet, then they can corrode. It could one of 3 places on each board that can corrode and cause a light to stop working.

1. The main connector (This is a PITA if it corrodes as it is part of the loom and therefore will require surgery to change) and the connector pins on the board....both can rust.

2. The earth connector and associated pins on the board....both can rust.

3. the area around each bulb.

I would therefore pull both boards and examine them carefully. I had this recently - my indicators and reverse lights both failed occasionally, which since they are on different circuits, points towards the area they have in common...the light board. When I pulled one of them, I discovered there was water in the cluster (See my recent thread on sealing the light cluster)

The electrics in the tailgate are not related to the lights either there or in the fuse box, but it is common to get shorts in that area which either drain the battery or stop the rear wiper from working.

Cheers n

Si

[~Delta]

Where abouts is the gear box switch? i have a look and cannot find it? Ill check fuses to.

The switch is on the o/s just above and behind the differential on CGR (6 speed) and on the n/s above the differential cover and behind the speedometer transducer on ARV (5 speed).