Fitting a light for reversing into car bumper

Mr321

I'm thinking of putting a light, possibly LED in the car bumper for reversing. Don't know if it'll be wired into the reverse light or just an on/off one somewhere as the reverse light on my VW are useless.

Is this OK to do from a legal side if things or will it be trouble when the car goes for the NCT etc.

Thanks

elperello

This is the requirement -

Reverse lamp

The reverse lamp of a vehicle provides illumination to the rear when backing up, and warns nearby drivers and pedestrians of a vehicle's backward motion. The reverse lamp, where fitted, will be checked to ensure that when in use it provides a white light which is clearly visible.

It doesn't mention anything about the switch so I'd guess you are ok.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741336#Comment_119741336

Thanks yes looks like that.

Esel

Wire it in to the existing system.

If you use a manual switch, there is always the danger of it being left on or switched on accidentally.

I would investigate the possibility of upgrading the existing bulb before fitting another light.

CoBo55

If you opt for a switch it must have a warning light on the switch.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119745622#Comment_119745622

Yea that's true. Yes I'll have a look about wiring it into the reverse light.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753924#Comment_119753924

OK thanks. Would be a good idea

CreadanLady

Don't tamper with the wiring to the existing reverse light (or any wiring for that matter) if your car is relatively new, like less than 12 years old or so.

If you do wire it in it is very likelly to interefere with or give false unintended/signals to the BCM and you would end up with all sorts of body system fault codes popping up and even if you remove the light again, you could still possibly face an expensive visit to a dealer to re-set the BCM. You don't want BCM problems. Once they start causing problems, it can be a pandoras box. Otherwise perfectly good and not old cars have been written off because of intractable BCM problems that couldn't be figured out.

It's not like the old days when you could just splice into the wiring harness. Everything on modern cars is controlled and monitored by the CAN bus and if it detects any anomaly, such as a light circuit drawing more current than is expected (due to a new bulb in parrallel on the circuit), then it interprets that measurement as a fault and puts the car into a fault condition and can give error codes and reduced functionality.

Be very careful. Modern cars don't take modifications well.

First see can you upgrade the bulb to a high intensity LED source.

Mr321

Thanks. I know what you mean yes especially with all the sensors telling you when bulbs have fallen below their Watts etc

There is a towbar on this car that was spliced into with the relay.

Its a 2013 golf and I can't stress how useless the reverse light is. I can't understand why they never put a reverse light on the right and left. I find myself holding the brake pedal down reversing for extra light.

I had thought of the LED bulb but I'm wondering would it be a safe option?

Its a Toshiba 12V 21W W21W bulb in it atm some LED bulbs can be either quiet long or have a big back on them and I don't think it would have the room against the lens when fitted. I'm not sure

Esel

I would think there should be an LED bulb with the exact dimensions etc. as the crappy bulb.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119756048#Comment_119756048

If he does it as a stand alone separately fused circuit it should be ok.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119757018#Comment_119757018

Called into the motor factors earlier and they havnt ever seen a w21w LED available to order and could be a Amazon/China online job.

Nothing is simple ever is it.

howsshenow

Great idea re separate reversing lamp. I fitted one under the bumper of my yoke. I

brought a new 12v wire from the cigarette lighter and used the existing reverse light wiring in the boot as an input to a relay for the new light.

Excellent for wintertime manoeuvres with fogged mirrors etc.

Mr321

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119757337#Comment_119757337

Nice. Did you go with an LED light. Bracket mounted in under bumper I'm guessing?

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119757290#Comment_119757290

Have a look in AliExpress I got reversing and rear indicator led bulbs for my superb, they're fantastic especially the indicator bulbs as the originals were brutal, they're as bright as the Kish lighthouse now💥 I'll never be rear ended anyway ☺️

howsshenow

I fitted one of these...WOWLED 2 Pcs 18W LED Flood Lamp from Amazon.

I am happy with the quality unlike previous junk which leaked.

I think I wedged a piece of Hardwood up behind the bumper and secured it with a screw and then I screwed the light to the wood. So far so good.