So after recently starting a new job at halfords I swapped one of my reverse light bulbs out, however they still weren't working, changed the fuse... Still no joy. So I asked the ex-army mechanic who also works there. He said that I needed a new reversing switch, so stupidly I ordered a new switch despite not knowing what the job entails. Unfortunately I'm a student and can't afford to send it into a garage, so I need to do it myself, which is handy considering I fancied getting a bit more experienced with car mechanics anyway. I've been looking at the manual but it isn't really helping me to understand what I need to do, so any advice would be valuable. I have an '03 plate fabia 1.2l if thats of any use. Cheers guys, Cameron

I have just had exactly the same experience.  (Reverse lights not working - bulbs fine, fuse fine, = most likely faulty reversing switch and / or broken connection to it, it was)

 

Bought the car second hand (55 plate) late last year from dealer, had 3 months warranty** on it, so they agreed to repair this for free.

 

The switch is on the gearbox, so this is a job that requires 'getting under the car'.  Also, depending on your Fabia age / model, it may have an 'undertray' which might have to be removed to get to the gearbox.

 

I toyed with the idea of doing it myself (until the dealer agreed to do it), but the fact that it involves at least jacking up the car and possibly removing a bit of undertray (plus I quite good at understanding how things work / need fixing ... but not so handy at actually fixing things) made me glad i didn;t have to in the end.

 

Replacing the switch itself theoretically should be within the average person.  never found a fabia video, but there is one replacing the switch on another vehicle.

 

 

So really I think it comes down to whether you can get to the gearbox and the switch.  you can of course jack it up yourself, put it up on stands (use the right jack up point, use proper stands, and for gods sake be careful) ... but you don't have the benefit of the ramps they have at garages.

 

Or, having bought the switch, take it to your local back street garage (do you have a friendly / trustworthy one?) and pay them the labour to do it for you.  (this should be seconds work for them ... try and negotiate half an hours labour)

sweet, cheers buddy , really helpful! in work I can get my hands on a lifting kit, so I'll give it a go (got to start somewhere eh?)

sweet, cheers buddy , really helpful! in work I can get my hands on a lifting kit, so I'll give it a go (got to start somewhere eh?)

If you work at a Halfords, who by the way aren't at all fraudulent, and you have an ex army (REME?) buddy, can you use their lift in a lunchbreak and use his guidance/ help or that of another highly trained mechanic/ automotive technician grease monkey?

 

Failing that, the reverse light switch is on the side of the gearbox, just below the gear selector assembly I think. Unplug it and then I believe it should just unscrew. The new one may need resealing.

Before you go spending money, check the wires that go to the switch.

 

They had broken on my vRS.  TPS will sell you a new plug and a repair wire.  Then you just need a nifty bit of soldering and some head shrinkable sleeving.

 

I can let you have the part numbers if necessary.

 

SN

Thanks guys, unfortunately I'm not at a halfords with an autocentre so we don't have a ramp :/