Using A Switch To Turn Reverse Lights On

[mrvdv85]

Hey everyone

I found out from the auto electrician that apparently something in my gearbox is worn but considering its not slipping or nothing. My issue is that my reverse lights go on when its in 1st/2nd gear or touching the left side of the gear stick so was wondering how would I go about making a switch to turn them on to get the cops off my back if they wanna see them.. can i just hook up power through the radio ignition wire and earth it out on the switch that way so the globes light up ?

Michael

[budgieVH]

what car and gear box do you have? i have a VH commodore with a 4 speed manual and i had the same problem then my revers lights stoped working.. all i did was get under neith my car and you will see something with 2 wires poking out just unplug it and take it out with a socket set and buy a new one.. put it back in if you are going to drive around though.

i was lucky to find a switch at pick-a-part that came out of the same gear box..

good luck and let me know how you go!

budgie.

[mrvdv85]

same. 4 speed manual vh commodore. i took it to the auto electrician and they replaced the switch bit but reckon its something more than that in the gear box cause it turns on from 1st to 2nd gear and in neutral if touching on the left side

[ari666]

i dont know if a random switch will satisfy a cops 'roadworthy-itis'* i am pretty sure the lights have to come on passivley once the gear is placed in reverse.

sorry i cant be more helpful than that. i would be wondering; if that part of your box is worn, then what else is. since i cant see it being more than a metal lug contacting a plastic switch.

reckon you should get a 2nd opinion, personally.

*roadworthy-itis; a debilitating disease in which a cop suddenly thinks he is an aeronautical engineer and knows more about your ride than you do. once fully infected, symptoms are, lack of ability to drive after business hours and a yellow blemish on ones windscreen. only known cure is a green piece of paper provided by a medic of mechanical prowess.

[budgieVH]

if you take your center console out and take the rubbers off the gear box (the seals from inside the car) and you will see a white plastic thing on top.. you have to push the nob down and into the top left corner so its under the plastic.. maybe the plastic could be damaged?..

the switch isn't plastic here is a pic below of my old switch i pulled out!



(i think my gear box is on the way out, it sound like a truck when idling sometimes =( !)