When I put the car in reverse fuse 7 blows and the speedo stops working.

I have had the local Skoda garage look at it but they can not find a reason for the fuse to blow.

This is not the usual instrument failure. I've had one :(

Where can I find the reversing switch on the engine? I want to check the wiring is OK at this point.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

What else is connected to this fuse? (reversing lights, speedo and ?)

Thanks

Damian

Hi damiandixon,

Which model/Mk of Skoda do you have here?

Soviet

Hi Soviet,

Octavia 1.6 GLXi, S registered

Regards

Damian

edit:

Found a thread that may help me here (fabia):

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/reverse-light-switch-plug-problems/116909/

Edited 29 July, 200817 yr by damiandixon

I have found the switch on the right side of the engine (as you look at the front of the car).

I am however unable to pull or manipulate the plug off the switch.

Any guidance on how to remove the plug?

Thanks

Damian

Hi Damian,

Sorry to not get back to you so soon. Do you have a Haynes manual, that is showing the circuit here?

It is showing me that fuse 7 is supplied by the black wire for pin 8 of the ignition switch and is going to the reversing lamp switch.

I am not understanding here why the speedo is not working when the fuse 7 is blowing, as the cluster is being supplied by fuses 11 and 15. But I am taking your word on this.

I have not ever removed one of these plugs, but there must be the keyway somewhere to prevent it from falling away with vibration. I would help you if I could here, but I have no knowledge of this one, however it may be a help for you to do a search at the top of the page here, and enter in reversing (lamp or Light) switch, if you have not been trying that already.

Best of luck, and I hope that you get what you are needing, and maybe some else here will know of this.

Soviet

Hi Damian,

Sorry to not get back to you so soon. Do you have a Haynes manual, that is showing the circuit here?

It is showing me that fuse 7 is supplied by the black wire for pin 8 of the ignition switch and is going to the reversing lamp switch.

I am not understanding here why the speedo is not working when the fuse 7 is blowing, as the cluster is being supplied by fuses 11 and 15. But I am taking your word on this.

I have not ever removed one of these plugs, but there must be the keyway somewhere to prevent it from falling away with vibration. I would help you if I could here, but I have no knowledge of this one, however it may be a help for you to do a search at the top of the page here, and enter in reversing (lamp or Light) switch, if you have not been trying that already.

Best of luck, and I hope that you get what you are needing, and maybe some else here will know of this.

Soviet

Hi Damian,

I have done the search for you here, but there is not the info. for removing the plug, and so maybe you would need to Google for the info. here, or for another Skoda forum, as they are existing.

Or ask the mechanic at the main dealer, and he may even pull the plug for you for no charge, if he is in the good mood. Or ask the quetion on the telephone.

Best of luck Soviet:thumbup:

Thanks Soviet,

I tried google as well but no luck. The main dealer is a little bit of a trek for me to get too.

What I wanted to do was remove the plug until I could get a new reversing switch. Also means I could check the resistance of the cable to see if I have a break.

I'm also a little bit surprised that fuse 7 affects the speedo as well having traced the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual. However my particular 1.6 model engine bay does not match any of the pictures in the manual...

I am also not at all impressed by the Haynes manual. Compared to previous cars and manuals this one is lacking in a lot of details.

Thanks for look for me.

Regards

Damian

Thanks Soviet,

I tried google as well but no luck. The main dealer is a little bit of a trek for me to get too.

What I wanted to do was remove the plug until I could get a new reversing switch. Also means I could check the resistance of the cable to see if I have a break.

I'm also a little bit surprised that fuse 7 affects the speedo as well having traced the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual. However my particular 1.6 model engine bay does not match any of the pictures in the manual...

I am also not at all impressed by the Haynes manual. Compared to previous cars and manuals this one is lacking in a lot of details.

Thanks for look for me.

Regards

Damian

Hi Damion,

I am sorry for hearing that you are having no luck here, with google. I am also finding the wiring diagram in Google not so good. I have tried before to get the workshop type, but they are just not availiable, as Skoda is not releasing them. There was before the talk that Haynes would be printing new Skoda books, with better information, but this is not happening yet.

Could you not be a bit of a sly one, and make a telephne call to the dealer, and ask if you can speak to a mechanic here?

I am living in Swindon, and have used this method with the dealer, some times now, as they are very helpful with such a simple thing for them. All plugs as you will know are different, and may need a lug to be pressed here to release it from the keyway, or maybe it is the pushfit, but if not, and you put the force on it then it will be ruined then. You really need to find out the info., I think. Info. should not cost anything.

A local garage man, may also help you, as once you know this it will be so easy for changing the whole switch here.

I really hope that you are getting it solved soon.

Soviet:thumbup:

Edited 30 July, 200817 yr by soviet
sp

Hi Damion,

There is this forum, that has other people that may have done this plug and so try this:-

Board Message

Best of Luck

Soviet

Hi Damion,

I have spoken with a guy with e-mail, and he is telling me that he was having the same problem as you with a VW Jetta, and he is saying that where the wires are entering the plug at the rear, there is a release tab that needs to be pulled here, towards you.

The tab is sliding towards you, and then the plug will come free.

I hope that this is help for you.

Soviet

Re:

Hi Damion,

I have spoken with a guy with e-mail, and he is telling me that he was having the same problem as you with a VW Jetta, and he is saying that where the wires are entering the plug at the rear, there is a release tab that needs to be pulled here, towards you.

The tab is sliding towards you, and then the plug will come free.

I hope that this is help for you.

Soviet

Hi,

I have tried to draw how i am thinking that it will look:thumbup:

IMG.pdf

Hi Soviet,

Thanks for the follow ups.

The plug is similar to the one drawn in the diagram. However rather then sliding I had to push a small screwdriver into a slot and pull hard. Used the wrong size screw drivers the first couple of time.

I will upload a photo when I get home.

Thanks for your help.

Damian

Hiya Damian. I've just read through this thread, and think from what you've said that you must have a live short somewhere in the wiring from the reversing light switch to the lights. Do you have access to a multimeter and a car lift (cross the hand of the manager at a quiet exhaust place with a brass maggie or 2 if you have to)?

have you tried a slightly higher amp fuse? dont go too high may be next one up from what you are using. other than that i can only think that something is shorting or draining more amps than the fuse can take. have you added anything new to the car or wired/re wired anything?

Got to worth a quick check on the loom in the boot as well. Has an aftermarket towbar (and electrics) been fitted?

Hiya Damian. I've just read through this thread, and think from what you've said that you must have a live short somewhere in the wiring from the reversing light switch to the lights. Do you have access to a multimeter and a car lift (cross the hand of the manager at a quiet exhaust place with a brass maggie or 2 if you have to)?

HI ken,

Yes I thought this too, but what is the brass maggie? and what will this do?

Soviet:thumbup:

Hi Soviet,

Thanks for the follow ups.

The plug is similar to the one drawn in the diagram. However rather then sliding I had to push a small screwdriver into a slot and pull hard. Used the wrong size screw drivers the first couple of time.

I will upload a photo when I get home.

Thanks for your help.

Damian

Hi Damion,

You have managed to remove the plug then, and so I am pleased. I will be interested in seeing the plug , thank you.

And now you will be able to find what the trouble is here.

Best of luck,

Soviet:thumbup:

HI ken,

Yes I thought this too, but what is the brass maggie? and what will this do?

Soviet:thumbup:

Colloquial name for a pound coin, named after the PM at the time they were introduced.

Colloquial name for a pound coin, named after the PM at the time they were introduced.

Hi Ken,

I have reed this one again, and I understand the meaning, and I think it is called giving the back hander?

Thank you

Soviet:rolleyes:

have you tried a slightly higher amp fuse? dont go too high may be next one up from what you are using. other than that i can only think that something is shorting or draining more amps than the fuse can take. have you added anything new to the car or wired/re wired anything?

The garage put a 15amp fuse in but that blew after about a month.

Nothing added or re-wired.

Hi Damion,

You have managed to remove the plug then, and so I am pleased. I will be interested in seeing the plug , thank you.

And now you will be able to find what the trouble is here.

Best of luck,

Soviet:thumbup:

Hi Soviet,

I've attached a couple of images. One is the plug the other of the engine bay...

There is a small catch which is just about visible on one of the pictures.

In answer to the other posts I have not modified the electrics or added anything to them... the suggestions were valid and nothing should ever be ruled out. Thanks.

I attached the multimeter to the plug and got a resistance reading with the ignition off - which was not expected.

The reversing switch in neutral was infinity - as expected.

Tried to put the car in reverse and was unable to without the plug connected to the switch - odd - very odd.

At this point I went back to the Haynes manual and checked the wiring and re-read the transmission section - nothing at all about this or anything else on the circuit.

Well off to check the wiring in the boot and a look under the car... for anything obvious.

Thanks

Damian

It's a bit too dark to do much tonight except google.

I found the following post about a 1999 Passat.

Passat lights - not: Motoring Technical matters forum

and was wondering if the reverse and brake bulbs in an Octavia were non standard as well?

Long shot - but that's about the only thing I have changed recently.

Thanks

Damian

All I can say there is that I bought the Halfrauds "bulb pack", getting a full set of bulbs for an Octy, and common fuses, and a handy box to keep them in, for about what the bulbs would cost in a service station, and I've used some of the bulbs with no issues.

Also I've changed the front sidelights for Phillips blue vision (which are actually extra white), and headlights for +50% bulbs from Powerbulbs, with no issues.

All I can say there is that I bought the Halfrauds "bulb pack", getting a full set of bulbs for an Octy, and common fuses, and a handy box to keep them in, for about what the bulbs would cost in a service station, and I've used some of the bulbs with no issues.

Also I've changed the front sidelights for Phillips blue vision (which are actually extra white), and headlights for +50% bulbs from Powerbulbs, with no issues.

Thanks... just a case of paranoia striking...

I'm going to replace the reversing light switch as the cost is not too much and looks fairly easy to change.

I suspect there is a solenoid in the transmission box which locked out the reverse gear.

I've checked the wiring in the boot - no kinks or wear. Some of the bulbs were a little greyed but appeared to work (not the reversing light bulbs).

The wiring runs down the inside of the car on the passengers side. At this point I don't think it's worth checking.

Regards

Damian