Hi all

I had the good old "reverse lights not working" problem. I checked the fuse & bulbs and they were all intact, so for diagnostic reasons I took the splash tray off the bottom of the car, unplugged the reverse light switch and put a wire across the connection, to see if the switch was the problem. The reverse lights illuminated, albeit intermittently. I put this down to me not having a decent connection with my piece of wire.

I ordered and replaced the reverse light switch (simple 2-3 minute job!), expecting this to be an easy fix. However, having plugged the thing back in, the reverse lights flicker or fail to work at all.

I think this is a problem with the plug which fixes on to the reverse light switch. Is it possible to order this part from Skoda, if so does anyone know the part number, and if it requires much work with the wiring loom or if it's just a straight-swap? (bearing in mind that the cable length to this switch is incredibly short!)

Check the wire in the back of the plug behind the rubber boot, you will probably find one of the wires is broken due to the cable being to tight.

My usual fix is to solder in a spare pad warning wire (I keep a few handy as its the same plug), this lengthens the wire and replaces the bust connector).

Failing that it could be a gearbox issue.

I had this with my Audi A3. The reverse light cable was very tight on that too. I ordered the plug parts from a dealer, but as Lummox says, the plug is the same as an old pad wear one. I soldered, heatshrinked, and spiral-wrapped the cable in, and again, Lummox is right, the extra length is good (fnaar). i think this is common on Golfs too.

Check the wire in the back of the plug behind the rubber boot, you will probably find one of the wires is broken due to the cable being to tight.

My usual fix is to solder in a spare pad warning wire (I keep a few handy as its the same plug), this lengthens the wire and replaces the bust connector).

Failing that it could be a gearbox issue.

Thanks to this kind fellow, who sent me one of the plugs, the problem has now been resolved.

To confirm, it was a faulty connection/broken wire somewhere between the plug and the inch of wire we cut out from the end of the plug lead.

I left the new reverse light switch in, as for £11.00 it may as well stay in there. Should it ever go wrong, I still have the original one which I could replace it with.

hi all.

ive also got this problem,ive traced the fault to the plug.the pin has now pulled out.does any 1 know where i can get 1 of these plugs from or know the part number.

any help much appreciated.

I use the old plug off a brake pad.

ok cheers

I left the new reverse light switch in, as for £11.00 it may as well stay in there. Should it ever go wrong, I still have the original one which I could replace it with.

The reverse light switch I bought less than 12 months ago went wrong this week - so I replaced it with the original (which I had kept) and everything is fine. My wire repair is holding up well, too!

I would go back to VW with the part and claim a new part (the part failed within 12 months and that is not fair wear and tear whatever you try to tell me), but for £11 I really can't be bothered.. if it goes wrong again, I'll just spend another £11 and 20 mins to fix it.

The part if purchased from a Skoda dealer will have a 2 year warranty, not so sure about VW sourced parts, but that should be the same.

And 5 months on, the other switch failed, so again I part with £10 for a new reverse light switch..

thats some serious reverse switch fail issues you got there

I know - good old VW group electronic reliability!

The part looked like a revised part (and had a 'P' on the end of the part number unlike the previous ones I have had) so fingers crossed this won't happen again...