26 replies to this topic

[JackF]

I have to apologise in advance because I have yet to properly investigate the problem and I am currently not near the car.

But I was wandering what you guys make of this.
As I left for college (reversed out of the drive) and pulled away my dad text me to say that my reverse lights stayed on down the road. When arriving at college, I left the ignition on and had a look round, it wasn't on. I had no funny looks while sat in traffic on my journey either.

I went to move the car last night, and whenever headlights are on, so are the reversing lights. Confused?!
It is a 84 city e and other that playing around with carpet/underlay. I haven't touched anything. Could I have knocked the reverse light switch? Or just a dodgy earth somewhere? Any help appreciated..
Jack

[L400RAS]

I would guess at an earthing problem in the boot.  Check and clean up all the rear light connections.

[lrostoke]

The wiring for the reverse light does go under the carpet , so if you were messing with that like you say, I'd peel it back and check the wiring .

[Gulfclubby]

Very possibly a stuck switch. They're a ******* to get to without a lift, but it's doable. The switch screws into the side of the selector box.

While you're there, check the cables too, as they go brittle and can short out because of the heat of the exhaust.

[Nick Warwick]

Make sure the switch in the selector box isn't screwed in too far.

[JackF]

Thanks for the responses people, I am going to have a potter on the car this evening.

[JackF]

Little look shows me that without headlights/sidelights on, reversing lamps work as normal.

As soon as lights are switched on, reversing lamps are illuminated. No matter what gear is selected.

I'm more inclined to say its an earth fault now? Any helpers?

[KernowCooper]

Sure is a earth fault by the looks of it check the wiring and connections as the side lights are finding a earth through the reverse lights

[Bungle]

does sound like a earth problem

[JackF]

Still have this problem. While I was at work my dad had a look, and he too is stumped.

Between us, we have cleaned up the earths for the rear loom, removed and cleaned all bulbs, checked fuses and selector switch connections.

I have resulted to removing the reverse lights bulbs so that i can drive the car.

Where do I look next?

[Gulfclubby]

Have you changed ANYTHING before the problem started?

[lrostoke]

Multimeter would help now.

Green/brown is the wiring to the reverse lights from the switch.

Unplug the wiring in the boot and see when the green/brown goes live...If it goes live when the lights are on it suggests a short in the loom.

[JackF]

Have you changed ANYTHING before the problem started?

Not as far as I am aware.

[Gulfclubby]

In that case im with lrostoke on this one: grab a multimeter and start measuring:)

[JackF]

Driving the car this morning and the windscreen wipers no longer self park. Coincidence or related...?