Reverse lights staying on in neutral

Max Moment

07 Petrol Qashqai. Swapped out reverse light switch due to no reverse lights turning on. Reverse lights now work with new switch but stay on when neutral is selected after being in reverse. Reverse lights turn off fine when any other gear is selected after reverse, but then turn back on when neutral selected.

Any ideas what the problem is?

Thanks

Stoolbend

Did you compare the old and new switches?

Was there a washer on the old switch that should have been fitted to the new one?

Max Moment

Stoolbend wrote: »

Did you compare the old and new switches?

Was there a washer on the old switch that should have been fitted to the new one?

Yes, compared both when I had the old switch out and both were exactly the same. No washer on either.

Stoolbend

It's possible the switch is just faulty so.

Max Moment

Stoolbend wrote: »

It's possible the switch is just faulty so.

Thanks. How would I check the switch with a multimeter to confirm if faulty? Don’t want to just buy another switch and drain gearbox oil again if it’s not 100% the problem.

There’s 3 pins. Presume I should get continuity between 2 pins when reverse is selected but which two.

rex-x

Was it a genuine nissan switch?

Max Moment

rex-x wrote: »

Was it a genuine nissan switch?

No, but neither was the switch that was taken out.

I have gotten the correct continuity checks from the workshop manual. Should have continuity between pins 1 & 2 when reverse is selected, which it does. Also should have continuity between pins 2 & 3 when neutral is selected, and no continuity between pins 1 & 2 in neutral, again which it does.

Seems switch is working ok?

rex-x

The length of the switch is critical, get a genuine switch from Nissan and go from there. It sounds like your one may be a tiny bit too long and so is still contacting the arm in neutral.

Max Moment

rex-x wrote: »

The length of the switch is critical, get a genuine switch from Nissan and go from there. It sounds like your one may be a tiny bit too long and so is still contacting the arm in neutral.

Thanks

Stoolbend

Unscrew the switch one or two full turns and see if that works. If it does just add a washer.

greasepalm

it does seem strange having a switch with no washer and having it immersed in oil and what would seal it?

Max Moment

Stoolbend wrote: »

Unscrew the switch one or two full turns and see if that works. If it does just add a washer.

For anyone interested, finally got around to looking at this. Used stoolbend’s idea of unscrewing the switch a few threads to see if it sorted the issue without having to drain the gearbox. Wound out switch two turns and reverse lights were now working correctly ie turning off when neutral is selected after reverse being selected. Switch was working correctly as I thought but the ‘pin’ was just a fraction too long as was suggested here.

A 16mm washer later I found in the toolbox and reverse lights are sorted. It’s the free fixes which are most satisfying! Now down to the NCT Monday to get my cert now the reverse lights are sorted.

Thanks for the help

rex-x

It's always worth buying switches like that genuine, I find the non genuine ones don't fit and also won't last but it's nice you have a fix