Can somebody please confirm this? I have been told by several people that there is no law to say a reverse light must work, I've tried to get mine fixed but it turns out the fault is in the gearbox.
I know this is not an MOT issue, but I wondered if it is required to be working by law?
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Law or not, you might regret having a non-working reverse light eventually.
I had the same problem in an old Orion once. Then one day I was trying to reverse out of a space in a busy fast moving car park on a Saturday afternoon. I must have been there for a good 20 minutes before somebody realised that my inching back meant I was reversing!! LOL!
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>>but it turns out the fault is in the gearbox.
Really?
Do you not mean the switch, which just unsrews from the gearbox body.
If there were such a serious fault in the gearbox, you wouldn't be able to reverse the car.
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Yeah that has been replaced, apparantly it lights up if you press the switch in, so it is not an electrical problem. It was replaced with a scrap yard item though.However I don't want to have to buy a new one if the same fault happens. Therefore the only fault appears to be inside the gearbox, the rod that activates the switch.
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>>It was replaced with a scrap yard item though
a) I wouldn't bother too much with fixing the reversing lights anyway
b) I certainly wouldn't waste my time with a scrapyard switch - the cost of a new one from Ford wouldn't justify the time and effort. Why do you mess about like this?
c) if you desperately want the lamps, there's nothing to stop you wiring in a new switch inside the car - as long as you also include a warning light.
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I was there anyway, needed a new door latch £47+VAT at Ford, £15 at the scrappy (was expensive). My mechanic is pretty confident the new switch is in good working order. It is the unusual four wire switch btw, not the common 2 wire nut type one which are cheaper and easier to get hold off.
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About reverse lights!
In 1985? We bough a 1978 "T" reg Escort estate without reversing lights! We found that Automatics had them for safety and I learned that all gearbox's had a place to screw in a reverse switch to wire up 1 or 2 reversing lights to said car! (no longer getting angry pedestrians shaking their fists while I reversed!)
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Some of the "proper" Volvos had a reversing light switch which could only be accessed by removing the gearbox. Quite an achievement for such a simple layout.
659.
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Some of the "proper" Volvos had a reversing light switch which could only be accessed by removing the gearbox. Quite an achievement for such a simple layout. 659.
Drop the support cross-member by a couple of inches. 10 minute job.
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I'd guess that it's not a legal requirement to have one, but that if it is working then the lens has to be intact to avoid dazzle (even though it's only 21W normally).
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The testing manual makes no reference to reversing lights and are not testable items as such, however you *could* be issued with a failure if they were illuminated all the time. Its not a Megane is it?
Edited by mrsarcasm on 25/11/2008 at 17:28
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I was thinking if I could get thick enough cable I could wire in a something to the cig light then onto the light cluster, I know this is a bodge, but it might be handy if I needed to get out of a busy car park and I could never forget as the wire would be in the way.
I am sure the cig circuit can handle a lowly 21w load, and I could even fit an inline fuse to it. To other bodge is to wire something into the fuse box, but that gets more tricky.
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Bodged wiring draped halfway down the car; Mmmm - toasty....
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Hence it would not be bodged in the safety aspect, only in terms of ease of wiring. I would make sure the cable is the current thickness for the load etc. My other idea was just to fit any old lamp and connect it to an old low ampage 12v battery (e.g alarm battery) so it remains seperate to the main wiring.
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what is wrong with the youth of today. Perfectly capable of changing memory simms but unable to design and wire in 35 spot lamps, reversing lights and the appropriate toggle switches with chromed red warning bulbs.
Edited by Webmaster on 26/11/2008 at 00:45
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hehe lack of confidence more than anything :). I remmber a lot of stories of my uncle wirin in a clock on his dads cortina using doorbell wire. They eat baked Cortina for breakfast in the next few years!
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There is no legal requirement to have a reversing light.
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But if one is fitted, does it have to work for the MoT test? Can't remember ever being failed for it, but seem to remember it's something testers check.
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I've checked the manual nothing at all on it about reverse lamp. This is certainly not an MOT issue but MOT and law are different. Coppers have seen my lamp out (while investigating another car) and they didn't mention it, despite having a chat with me when they caught me with some pliers and a burglars screw driver trying to shut my door!
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But if one is fitted does it have to work for the MoT test?
No mention of it in the Testers Manual.
www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm
www.motuk.co.uk/manual/mot_section_one.htm
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There is no legal requirement to have a reversing light.>>
Reversing lights, unlike the remainder of vehicle lighting, are not checked during an MOT.
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One less thing to worry about then.
Rattle, you're free! Just be wary of low but jagged concrete bollards, wandering toddlers, recumbent drunks and sleeping dogs or cats when reversing in some murky urban back alley...
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IIRC Rattle lives in Wales. Do they have murky urban back alleys there?
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I live in Manchester :).
I very very rarely drive at night so the only purpose is to allow others to know I am reversing. I have to wait till I know its its completly clear but that is good driving practise anyway.
I will leave it for now, thanks for all advice once again. At least a drive shaft boot and the drivers door has been fixed so not the end of the world.
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I'm not sure of the design of the switch but you could try putting a small self-tapper into the end of the nodule or crimping a short piece of brass tubing on the end to extend it. You can buy brass tubing from model shops and online incl. ebay.
Edited by Hamsafar on 25/11/2008 at 20:15
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When I got my car the reversing light didn't work either.
I grovelled underneath and removed the switch from the gearbox and like yours pressing it with my finger made it work - "Ah, gearbox fault" I though" - wrong the switch was faulty - the bit I was pushing with my finger was worn down when compared to a new one £2.80 well spent.
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OK thanks guys. My mechanic fitted this one, it looked a piece of string on a ramp, but I have no ramp so would it be easy to enough to do from above? It is a lower down switch sadly.
I will give Ford a ring tomorrow and ask them how much a new one is, if its not a lot more than the old one I will return mine to the scrappy and then buy a new one.
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You could always do what I do with the lorry; switch your hazard flashers on. Alerts pedestrians and other drivers, and gives enough (sometimes better) illumination to see what's behind you.
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There is no legal requirement to have a reversing light.
I was having a flight of fancy about a "reverse light" - presumably that would be "a dark".
Normal servioce will be resumed ASAP.
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Reg 23 Road Vehicles Lighting Regs 1989 makes a requirement that lamps fitted have to be maintained in good and efficient working order and clean.
However it goes on to list which these lamps are.
Reversing Lamp IS NOT included. Neither is there a requirement for one to be fitted.
One not required to be fitted is therefore NOT a MOT item to be tested.
Hope that sheds light on the subject.
dvd
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Standard reversing lights are usually pathetically inadequate for illumination, and hardly desrve the name.
I always fit a proper spotlight in addition so I can see where I am reversing. There are no streetlights within 5 miles of my neck of the woods.
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Standard reversing lights are usually pathetically inadequate for illumination and hardly desrve the name. I always fit a proper spotlight in addition
The legal maximum wattage for reversing lamps is 24W. tinyurl.com/5d57o5
Edited by L'escargot on 26/11/2008 at 09:21
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I never realised those bright rear-facing lights that tractor drivers leave on all the time were only 24w !
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Tractors and cars probably have different laws.
I am just going to forget about the lamp now, and just get a new plate made and also check my spare, then my car should be completly legal.
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My Bora had its MOT on Monday at my usual test centre. The tester checked every aspect of the vehicle's lighting requirements, apart from the reversing lights.
As others have pointed out, a reversing lights check is not listed in the MOT test schedule.
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Talking about reverse light switches, does any one remember the old Vauxhall switch.
If I recall correctly it was fastened to the speedo cable, and worked only when the cable turned 'backwards'.
You could sit there all day hoping that somebody had noticed that you were about to reverse !
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Rattle
As NC says, there would have to be something seriously wrong with the workings of the gearbox for the internals to be broke! There is hefty componentry inside gearboxes which won't let something as silly as a switch get in the way or damage it. Usually all a reversing light switch does is catch on something which is there serving a mechanical purpose anyway.
Unfortunately you won't get much change out of £25 for a new switch from Ford's I suspect, but that's the way it's got to be. The alternative would be to wire the correct wires for the reversing lights to an ordinary 'single bolt' type switch, assuming you've a suitable connector and the blanking plug is there; the arrangement's more common, the switch is cheaper new, and by what you've mentioned probably more reliable.
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Yeah that seems to be general jist of this thread that the scrap yard switch is bust. I was charged £15 for it too. I don't want to return it will get I a new one, but buying a new one then means having to fit.
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Treat yourself to one of those cheap new Chryslers, Rattle....none of this crawling about under cars malarkey! ;-)
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You know it is very temping but insurance is an issue, and atm I do about 1k a year! I am on probation so still use public transport a lot (it is often easier anyway) but when I do use my car it saves so much hassle.
I wish the price of the old Ka would come down a lot say £4k for a new one.
Small new cars are not cheap enough, only the big ones which are not much use for me. I would even buy a Kia Picanto if it was cheap enough (new).
My latest expense is a new reg plate, it is amazing when you buy an old car every little thing looks minor, 6 weeks later it is major (e.g condition of plate).
So yes if I could get credit and saw a good enough cheap newish small car I would ditch bangers and buy it.
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Rattle use your imagination and shove one side of your car up on a high kerb or similar, then sling yourself underneath and get down and dirty.
Might be worth you getting a pair of ramps and axle stands and a trolley jack too, it'll save you hundreds of pounds over the years, then the next step will be when one or two enthusiastic ''greasers'' will encourage you to smear oily substances all over the underside of your car, its all downhill after that..;)
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Rattle: you are an extravagant bangernomicist by your own voluble account.
A reversing light switch is cheap new. You don't have to go to the main dealer if they overcharge for it, which they sometimes do. There are other places where you can get the same thing for less, sometimes much less.
These days the few remaining breakers' yards are highly organised, and charge accordingly. Even when they used to let you do your own grovelling, and charged 2 quid instead of 15, or just gave you the thing for nothing if they knew your mug, it might not have been worth the hassle and filth for something so minor.
gb is right, you need to get filthy yourself. You learn more that way, and know more about yr jalopy too when it develops its next symptom. But I still cant get rid of the suspicion that you enjoy winding us up, in what I insist is a friendly and good-natured way. Not trolling exactly. You are probably like that at home and in the pub too. Please continue... :o}
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Just like to get things sorted. I could go to a Ford Dealer or even a proper garage on the high street ask them to sort everything out, it probably cost £700!.
I was ripped off at the scrappy but I needed this door latch which is a £60 part new, so I had to go this retail brakers, I didn't have time to go to Ford as that was well out my way and that means canceling jobs etc. if I do get it off I shall be returning it. I am actually quite careful about making making new threads as I am aware of my reputation :).
Wish I was more like my dad at times, his idea with cars is to ignore all the clattering the brakes makes, ignore the fact the springs are cracked, ignore the fact the car only steers right and ignore the fact 3rd dosn't work - you get the idea!
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Since this very, very old thread has been dug up, the 2021 update is that reversing lights are now included in the MOT, which sort of brings a final closure to this thread.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 12/04/2021 at 13:01
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Since this very, very old thread has been dug up, the 2021 update is that reversing lights are now included in the MOT, which sort of brings a final closure to this thread.
The reverse light switch in the Caterham packed in probably 10 years ago. To replace it is an engine/gearbox out job. To avoid any MOT issues I changed to lens on the reverse light to match that of the rear fog and extended the wiring so that both illuminated, took a few minutes instead of a good day to sort.
When the MOT tester checks the lights since there is not clear lens on the rear he doesn't even ask for the reverse light to be turned on.
Hopefully that will stay the same this year.
Probably like many MOT issues on older cars, if it has one it has to work, if it doesn't its fine.
But the next time the engine and box are out I will sort it (if you can still get reverse light switches for a Sierra gearbox).
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Does anyone know whether you're still allowed a manual switch for reversing lights, please?
I believe the regulation used to be that you could have a manual switch provided there was a form of indication for the driver showing when the reversing lights were on but this could well have changed by now.
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Does anyone know whether you're still allowed a manual switch for reversing lights, please?
I believe the regulation used to be that you could have a manual switch provided there was a form of indication for the driver showing when the reversing lights were on but this could well have changed by now.
It could have changed. Way back in the eighties when I ran a 1978 Peugeot 104ZS it had a switched reversing light. The switch has an orange pilot light to indicate when it was on. However, as the switch was in the centre console behind the gearstick it was pretty much invisible. I was regularly flashed and hooted for driving with it on.
Edited by Bromptonaut on 12/04/2021 at 14:41
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I had a 1966 Ford Cortina. I put on £25 of add-ons - radial tyres, demist panel, internal bonnet release, seat belts & a reversing light. Total for car, add-ons & RFL was just over £550.
The reversing light toggle switch lit up when the reversing light was on.
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Rules have changed since the original post in 2008 . Cars registered after September 2009 , if fitted with reverse lights , (either one or two lights) ,must operate automatically when reverse gear is selected .
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Reversing light is a bit of a misnomer here. Modern cars are fitted with a reverse gear selected warning light. I have a 2020 Volvo S60. The LED warning lights do not produce any useful light output to enable one to reverse in total darkness. This car also has cameras, other than the front are useless in total darkness. In the past it has been possible to replace the incandescent ‘backup warning bulbs’ with high output bulbs to give adequate illumination at the rear of the car.
Warning lights are now LED’s giving people like me living on single-track public roads a major problem after dark. We need to be able to back up safely in total darkness to a passing place, usually a field gate, when confronted with an oncoming vehicle. In my case this can be the order of 100M.
Fortunately, both rear lights are driven off the same ECU so I taped the wire to the LH cluster warning light to feed the LED side of a solid-state relay. The relay draws 1.9mA which I guessed would not over stress the ECU output. NB bulb failure warning is no longer required with LED's.
This is not just a Volvo Issue most recent cars have the same issue. Manufacturers are totally unaware of unlit single-track roads.
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If I had to choose between two new cars and one had a single rear foglight but two reversing lights, and the other vice versa, I'd always go for the two reversing lights. Far too many cars have one of each as a penny-pinching ruse and the reversing light very often only illuminates one side of a car's rear and is only visible to pedestrians from one very narrow angle.
Of course, an easy solution is to wire in a blood curdling siren, shriek or werewolf death howl so that every living being in a 100 metre radius knows you're reversing. My personal preference would be a large PA speaker to allow me to "personalise" a warning - "I say, would you mind awfully..." or words to that effect to the cloth-eared shopper or headphone-clad teen.
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Firstly, in the past it wasn't legal for cars to have audible reverse warnings, just CVs.
And secondly, it's the driver's responsibility to ensure it's safe to reverse not the pedestrian, however consumed in their own world, to check if a car is going to run them over whilst reversing.
And thirdly, the OP, Rattle. There's a name from the past!
Edited by Chris M on 20/08/2021 at 07:42
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"And thirdly, the OP, Rattle. There's a name from the past!"
Who can forget his tales of woe regarding his cars, old Fiesta then Corsa I seem to remember.
In the past when reversing a vehicle without a reversing light, I used to put the indicator on (or hazards if fitted). In a dark lane or other unlit place this helped considerably.
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I disagree with the law permitting just the one reversing light, all vehicles should have two, one on each side just like stop and side lights, motorbikes excepted!
(Gosh, and old thread come back to life, lots of familiar old names too, don't see them anymore)
Edited by Smileyman on 20/08/2021 at 22:04
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