Hi All

 

Just looking for some help

 

Each time I put the car into reverse the parking sensors activate and work fine but both the reverse lights 'sometimes' come on or they flicker to suggest a lose connection somewhere ?

 

Any advice welcome

 

Octavia 2009 4x4 tdci 1.9 (facelift)

 

 

Ash

Check the reverse light switch wires aren't broken, they are near the gearbox under the air filter box.

will do - do you know any links/ pics that will help me ?

Try the link below regarding removing the airbox, once removed look for a switch with 2 wires coming from the gearbox

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/air-filter-box-or-filter-replacement-mk5/

thanks!

Having similar problem, so would like to check that this is the reverse switch I'm looking for before going further.

 

Is the connection a straight 'pull-off' or is there a clip on it?

 

06 plate 2.0 Tdi

fuse, bulb checked and ok

Update in that this is the switch, as when I wiggle the wires, (with ignition on and in reverse) the reversing lights do work.

 

My follow up question, is how do you get the electrical clip off??? I seem to recall that there's some clip you need to push in, as pulling understandably doen't work.

 

Wondered what is the knack / technique to do this?? 

Push the body of the connector firmly towards the switch then lift the latch at the top with a thumbnail. When you hear that click free, pull the body of the connector off.

The initial pushing makes it much less likely that the latch will snap, as it relieves the load on the flimsy plastic.

Thanks; a case of easy why you know how! Fo me it was more of a 'pull back' on the latch than a lift.

 

The wires had worn through at the point of them leaving the protective sleeve. I guess there comes a point after 13 years and 230k miles of flexing then

16 minutes ago, Wino said:

Push the body of the connector firmly towards the switch then lift the latch at the top with a thumbnail. When you hear that click free, pull the body of the connector off.

The initial pushing makes it much less likely that the latch will snap, as it relieves the load on the flimsy plastic.

 eventually every weak point will be found. Two solders later, and all working again. 

Well done. 😊

A job on my list for this week, since fitting a reversing camera the Chinese head unit often crashes either when reverse engaged of after say 10 seconds of reversing, proximity sensors work everytime.

 

Not 100% convinced its the switch or wiring because its the canbus that tells the head unit that reverse is selected but it needs to be checked, the one failed on my MK1.

To anyone who may read this in the future, the problem is the satnav, which comes on a micro SD card inserted into the unit fascia, it was causing the head unit to crash whenever it changing CD tracks, displaying the reversing camera etc, with it removed the unit works perfectly.

 

There is a reason why the sellers of these Win CE head units all say the satnav is a free gift. Buyer beware.

 

The one supplied would frequently speak a voice prompt at maximum volume and would soon have blown the speakers (they were trying to jump out of the doors) I bought another on Ebay for next to nothing, that worked initially but still caused the crashing so its disengaged until I need it, now it wont load and causes the head unit to reboot for several minutes to an hour before finally loading, not what you want on a GPS.

 

My advice to anyone is to avoid an Erisin unit with Win CE operating system, I did not look hard enough and thought it was Android.

I had a broken wire . Fixed it with a pressed copper rivet nut ☺️

Apologies about a beginners question, how do I fix that? Would need to take the wire out to solder it at home - what's the way of doing it? The other end is inside plastic protector so can't actually find it 

Also out of curiosity, what is this? 

Also how do you remove the actual reverse light switch? Kinda hard to get a hold of it

Just now, Martini06 said:

Also how do you remove the actual reverse light switch?

Do you mean the connector, or the switch itself which is screwed into the gearbox?  If you mean the connector, the method is described in my post on 21/07/19 above.

 

The bit you've circled is a lever for locking the gear selector in a certain position used when resetting the cables.

Just now, Breezy_Pete said:

Do you mean the connector, or the switch itself which is screwed into the gearbox?  If you mean the connector, the method is described in my post on 21/07/19 above.

 

The bit you've circled is a lever for locking the gear selector in a certain position used when resetting the cables.

Probably the switch and the connector, as the blue wire actually snapped and no i don't even have the end of it to solder 🙄 

Is it easier to access the switch itself from the bottom of the car? 

There is some play at the lever, is that normal? I didn't want to mess with it not knowing what it is. 

Many thanks 

Yeah, its normal for that lever to be movable, leave it alone.

 

I very much doubt the reverse switch is any problem itself, the broken wire is obviously going to make it not work.

 

Unwrap the black tape at the end of the plastic conduit tube, and then you will be able to split that tube apart and find the other end of the wire. Until the wire is fixed, there is no point in worrying about the switch.

 

You can prove the fault is just the wiring if you strip back both ends of the broken section until you have clean copper, twist them together tightly and wrap some tape around. That should be enough to see it work, then you can think about making an improved, more weatherproof joint at your convenience.

 

 

The blu e wire has snapped off completely - I'd actually need to add some wire over there, so need to unplug it but the latch is actually at the bottom 🤔

The other end of the blue wire is in the black tubing surely?

Best picture I can get 

Just here where my blue arrow points to:

 

Ah, were those pictures not your car?

 

Yes, access may well be easier from below. It might be easiest for you to buy a replacement connector with wire tails pre-fitted, then join them into the loom.

@Martini06

 

The connector plug is probably still saveable.