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user-deleted-1081
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Reverse Vehicle

04/22/2012 10:58 PM

When a Vehicle is put into reverse, the white light is activated in the reat to indicate the vehicle is reversing. Can anybody elaborate on this mechanism. Is it electro-mechanical - when in reverse position the switch is on then off?

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redfred
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#1

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/22/2012 11:05 PM

There's a switch that turns on the light. I believe in most cases the switch is in the transmission controller (stick, lever, push button) but I would not be surprised if some vehicles have one in the transmission itself. It depends on the specific vehicle.

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redfred
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#5
In reply to #1

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 11:10 AM

I cannot believe the irony.

My wife's Subaru Legacy is in the shop today for normal maintenance and a vehicle safety inspection. The back up light switch in the transmission has failed and needs to be replaced.

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lyn
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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 4:17 PM

Aren't you glad the question wasn't related to a blown engine?
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redfred
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 4:19 PM

You got that right.

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user-deleted-1081
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#10
In reply to #5

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 12:42 AM

Thanks for that tip... I will follow that lead and check it out.

I was thinking it could be some complicated electronics involved !!

Thanks again

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WAWAUS
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#11
In reply to #1

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 2:35 AM

Mine is in the gearbox....
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lyn
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#2

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/22/2012 11:08 PM

They are called back-up lights. They help one see when one wishes to go backward in the dark. They turn on when the vehicle is shifted into reverse.
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jurie sa
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#16
In reply to #2

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 1:15 PM

Would you believe this: A traffic police-man in south Africa gave a motorist a R100 fine because

"The back-up light only works when the gear selector is in reverse position!"

Have a look at the gearbox...Couple the two wires that leads to the gearbox switch together, switch the ignition on...if the reverse light comes on...the switch is faulty.
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bob c
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#20
In reply to #16

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/25/2012 10:49 AM

Many years ago, (when I was less concerned with correctness) I received a ticket for no liscence plate light because the rear bumper was removed, and the plate was just bolted to the rear support. So smart a$$ installed a brake light with no lens over it. So the next ticket was for dazzeling liscence plate light.

Now how was the a$$, me or the cop?

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Ace Boeringa
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#21
In reply to #20

Re: Reverse Vehicle

05/02/2012 3:05 PM

Bob, that would be you.
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bob c
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#22
In reply to #21

Re: Reverse Vehicle

05/03/2012 11:05 AM

Were you that dic* head cop?

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Ace Boeringa
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#23
In reply to #22

Re: Reverse Vehicle

05/05/2012 9:00 AM

I was! (except for the cop part)

Bob, does it seem unreasonable to you that vehicles be required to have a license plate light that will not blind other drivers? Or do you believe that such laws should only apply to people other than Bob C?
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bob c
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#24
In reply to #23

Re: Reverse Vehicle

05/06/2012 9:26 PM

Now I can realize that there should be a tag light, and that it should not blind drivers behind me. But then, I just did not care that much about that police man, and his petty wants.

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Ace Boeringa
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#3

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 12:31 AM

There is a little man under the seat whos job it is to turn on the white light when you are getting ready to back up, his cousin is probably the little man that turns off the light in your refrigerator when you close the door.
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Johny451
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#9
In reply to #3

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 11:11 PM

How does he know when to turn on the light? (The reversing light, the fridge is obvious - it's when someone is looking at him and tapping their foot.)

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Lapin
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#15
In reply to #9

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 11:09 AM

It's obvious, he has some sensitive body part that gets pinched when you shift the mechanism into reverse. Did you ever hit your thumb with a hammer? He gets so mad that his face glows, you perceive it as light.

The alternate view, is that he has some sensitive body part that gets stroked when you shift into reverse, then his face glows for an entirely different reason.

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#4

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 4:37 AM

The wiring diagram for it will be found in the Haynes Manual (usual disclaimer) for the vehicle in question.

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KeepItSimpleStupid
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#8
In reply to #4

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/23/2012 10:57 PM

When I was like 16 and had a 15 YO GF she said, "I didn't know you had headlights in the back of your car?.
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Chankley
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#12

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 4:13 AM

The switch was always on the (manual) transmission on my previous vehicles, I haven't looked on my current one.
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reefdiver
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#13

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 9:46 AM

back in the day, when we swapped out trannies, we would just install a toggle switch in the dash and turn the lights on manually..........fine for backing up, and great for tailgaters :)
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bob c
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#14

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 10:04 AM

If you give us a clue as to what the vehicle is, and what transmission type it is, we can probably steer you to the little man with back up light switch.

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krishnadeep
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#17

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 7:54 PM

what about automatics? .............heard they have wonderfull electronic circuits.....
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redfred
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#19
In reply to #17

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/25/2012 8:03 AM

I don't understand you. Are you trying to tell us that a switch is not part of an electronic circuit?

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durtieduck
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#18

Re: Reverse Vehicle

04/24/2012 7:54 PM

it's manual.the the switch is located in the gear selector.
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Users who posted comments:

Ace Boeringa (3); bob c (4); Chankley (1); durtieduck (1); Johny451 (1); jurie sa (1); KeepItSimpleStupid (1); krishnadeep (1); Lapin (1); lyn (2); PWSlack (1); redfred (4); reefdiver (1); user-deleted-1081 (1); WAWAUS (1)

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