reverse lights not on (where is switch location?)
Discussion
i installed some L.E.D. reverse lights with built in warning sound. they have the same form factor as the standard bulbs. they worked for one drive, then gave out. i confirmed this by testing the bulbs outside the vehicle. surprisingly, installing the original bulbs didn't return things to normal. i now have no current. the fuse (#19) was not blown. next i will check the switch triggered by the reverse gear. anyone know where that is located?
i found out the problem. a wire was burnt clean through. the store i bought the bulbs from gave me a new set, and i bench tested the current drain to be more than the standard bulb. kind of defeats the purpose of going L.E.D. i plugged them back into the car to confirm the drain, and accidentally burnt up the transmission switch. the fuse blew this time, but apparently only after the switch fried.
in conclusion:
we all need smaller than a 10amp fuse for the reverse light circuit, to avoid burning up the transmission switch
REDLINE needs to put fewer L.E.D.s on their product, for they are if anything too bright as is.
where the smeg am i gonna find a replacement transmission switch. i'd guess they are a rarity.
in conclusion:
we all need smaller than a 10amp fuse for the reverse light circuit, to avoid burning up the transmission switch
REDLINE needs to put fewer L.E.D.s on their product, for they are if anything too bright as is.
where the smeg am i gonna find a replacement transmission switch. i'd guess they are a rarity.
Never bought a reverse light switch but I can't see them being either rare or desperately expensive.
Before you re-install your led kit, why don't you simply use a relay to power them? This way the reverse light switch will only ever have a tiny current passing through it and the led kit can have as many amps as it wants!
Before you re-install your led kit, why don't you simply use a relay to power them? This way the reverse light switch will only ever have a tiny current passing through it and the led kit can have as many amps as it wants!
very true graham, but there are a few too many relays on the vehicle for my taste already, and the relay also draws a small current. there is no reason why i need that much light coming off the backend of my car. the small audio alarm caused some of the current load as well i suppose. funniest thing is the new bulbs L.E.D. blew out as well, and upon taking the thing apart, it contained 22 gauge wires that burnt up similar to the 20 gauge wire on the vehicle. sloppy electrical engineering all round. a wire or switch should never blow before the fuse. use a 5amp in the 19 slot. unless you end up replacing it every month. i'll reserve assessment until i have everything running again. interestingly, i measured the load on my other L.E.D. bulbs as compared to their conventional equivalents. although noticably brighter, the L.E.D.s showed unappreciably less to equal current load. oh well.
andrew. $15 would be great. however, i have an '84 turbo esprit with the older gear box. are the switches interchangable? i guess the nut width and thread size is all that matters.
jim. do you happen to know these measurements off hand?
thanks. i'm trying to make myself feel better by thinking the original switch was ready to go anyway. and if not, it is too fragile for the job.
jim. do you happen to know these measurements off hand?
thanks. i'm trying to make myself feel better by thinking the original switch was ready to go anyway. and if not, it is too fragile for the job.
jae and dave bean both have them. not the OEM part, but something currently available off another make, which they aren't willing to reveal. cost is just over $30. a rebuild is deninitely possible dr. hess. we should all be saving the broken ones for future. and as the replacement part is expensive, i reiterate to all, use a 5amp fuse for the reverse light circuit.
Yes . . . . mine is Renault.
Opening a Renault switch is possible, but I think rather difficult. I did it once with a bad one from the Toronto dealer. The top of the Renault switch has a white-yellow plastic cap through which the electrical leads extend through. Beneath that is a layer of black epoxy and that is hard-as-hell to chip through.
Anyway I have a good spare and haven't used it for 7 years. If you really need one I can give up mine.
andrewp1989@hotmail.com
Opening a Renault switch is possible, but I think rather difficult. I did it once with a bad one from the Toronto dealer. The top of the Renault switch has a white-yellow plastic cap through which the electrical leads extend through. Beneath that is a layer of black epoxy and that is hard-as-hell to chip through.
Anyway I have a good spare and haven't used it for 7 years. If you really need one I can give up mine.
andrewp1989@hotmail.com
thanks andrew. i appreciate your generosity. my gear box is a citroen, and i have ordered the appropriate part from JAE. epoxy can be burnt off slowly with a propane torch. don't breath it in, and go slowly(let the thing cool a few times between torchings) as to to not weaken or melt the metal parts.
Hi,
I have a new original Citroen reverse switch still in the blister pack, but I think I have the last one. No one had identified an alternative part at the time (incl. Jeff @ JAE and Ken @ DBE), I paid dearly for mine - $80USD, just to have the spare.
I'm not really of a mind to part with it as it's one of the few unobtanium parts for the 'G' cars, but if you have no other alternative, make me an offer and I may let it go.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
I have a new original Citroen reverse switch still in the blister pack, but I think I have the last one. No one had identified an alternative part at the time (incl. Jeff @ JAE and Ken @ DBE), I paid dearly for mine - $80USD, just to have the spare.
I'm not really of a mind to part with it as it's one of the few unobtanium parts for the 'G' cars, but if you have no other alternative, make me an offer and I may let it go.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
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