Help needed with 00 1.9TDi passat reverse lights

sharky86

My reverse light will not work for some reason.
I have changed the bulds but still no joy.

Has anyone ever come accross this problem before?
Does anyone have any recommendations that doesnt include a trip to a garage?

thanks
S

Danbo!

Have you checked the fuse?

Stoolbend

The reverse light switch can give bother in those.

I've replaced a few of them.

C4Kid

I've a 00 Golf, if the Passat has a similar bulb cluster, I remember some bulbs needed to be shaken while in the sockect before they would come on. Simply twisting them into place sometimes didn't make them work until I barely tipped them and they came on and have stayed on since. Bad design I think!:(

One time one of the bulbs was faulty and would go out if the car was driven over potholes but I thought it was the cluster, replacing the bulb sorted it.

sharky86

Danbo! wrote: »

Have you checked the fuse?

Yea checked it there now, no joy with it at all

barry81 wrote: »

The reverse light switch can give bother in those.

I've replaced a few of them.

How would I check this?

sharky86

C4Kid wrote: »

I've a 00 Golf, if the Passat has a similar bulb cluster, I remember some bulbs needed to be shaken while in the sockect before they would come on. Simply twisting them into place sometimes didn't make them work until I barely tipped them and they came on and have stayed on since. Bad design I think!:(

One time one of the bulbs was faulty and would go out if the car was driven over potholes but I thought it was the cluster, replacing the bulb sorted it.

try'd that too
I'm starting to lose hope with this car now

C4Kid

After I posted I released You meant both are out, so it's probably not the bulbs as You say.

I haven't had that issue with mine yet but who knows. I'm not sure what else it could be apart from maybe the switch as Barry81 said, I've heard of those causing similar problems on other Vw forums:(

GTE

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2950452

It is most definitely the reverse switch.
Its a fiddly job for a DIY but easy enough if you are confident.
EDIT: In fact, aside from taking the battery out it is one of the easiest DIY's I can think of. Its only fiddly because its a long thread and you can only unwind the switch out in small increments.

You know its the switch if you but a bulb that you know works (brake light, indicator) into the reverse bulb slot and see if it lights up.

I dont know about the fuse but considering how common the switch problem is Id go for that.

I'm starting to lose hope with this car now

Other problems?

sharky86

bbk wrote: »

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2950452

It is most definitely the reverse switch.
Its a fiddly job for a DIY but easy enough if you are confident.
EDIT: In fact, aside from taking the battery out it is one of the easiest DIY's I can think of. Its only fiddly because its a long thread and you can only unwind the switch out in small increments.

You know its the switch if you but a bulb that you know works (brake light, indicator) into the reverse bulb slot and see if it lights up.

I dont know about the fuse but considering how common the switch problem is Id go for that.


Other problems?

Not really any other problems actually, I just get terrible dramatic sometimes!

I think I head to a garage for this one, Not comfortable messing around in any where in the engine block myself.

thanks
S

dub7_2010

Just unplug cable at the switch and bridge the two contact pins with a piece of wire. If lights dont work the replace the switch.
Dont worry its simple and you wont cause any damage.

sharky86

the prob is with finding the switch. The layout of everything is completly different to that link.... I'm useless at this things