Reverse light wiring question

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 18, 2019

I am fitting reversing lights to my ex-MOD 1986 90. After much reading and searching with a torch I have finally got to the point where I could use some help please.

My LR doesn't have the wires (that I can find) to the switch so tracing everything back I finally found the green / brown wire that feeds the light (circled red in the picture) which lights the reverse light when 12v is applied to it. The fact it is unplugged at the top of the firewall suggests to me that the part of the loom which would connect to the switch is missing, but no matter I can connect to the switch with new wiring.

My question is where do I find the right wire from the fuse box? It should be a green wire according to the circuit diagram, and so by a fairly simple process of deduction I have found a green wire on a plug with nothing plugged into it (circled yellow in the picture) . This gives 0v with IGN off and 12v with IGN on so that looks like it could be it, so just want to make sure as I'd like to connect it to the right fuse if at all possible.

If that is the right wire then I can run a new wire down to the switch from the plug and bring another wire back up to the green / brown. Job done.

Thanks in advance

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 18, 2019

I just realised if I remove the fuse for the brake light / reverse light and that wire doesn't give a feed I've answered my own question.

D'oh.

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 18, 2019

Bingo.

nobber · Feb 18, 2019

Best thread I've read in a long time, good stuff,

Flossie · Feb 19, 2019

Watch you don't wind the switch in too much or reverse gear won't go in.

flat · Feb 19, 2019

What you are suggesting is the wiring you need to fit, that green wire is the feed for the reverse light.

That’s all I had to do to my ex-mod - well fit the rear light aswell and the switch.

Took a bit of fiddling to get the switch screwed in just right though

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 19, 2019

Flossie said:
Watch you don't wind the switch in too much or reverse gear won't go in.

Thanks for the advice, I understand that the switch should be used with a locking nut (which it doesn't have) so I guess its trial and error.

flat said:
What you are suggesting is the wiring you need to fit, that green wire is the feed for the reverse light. That’s all I had to do to my ex-mod - well fit the rear light aswell and the switch. Took a bit of fiddling to get the switch screwed in just right though

Brilliant, thanks for the confirmation on the wire. I've got the switch just not fitted it yet, but I've tested all the electrics and I can light a bulb using that rear wiring from the green wire so we are good to go.

Light already attached, I am using a side light lens, I just need to fit the bulb holder (not quite decided how to do that yet, I've got a couple of options) and run all the new wiring and I am done.

Tried to keep it as REME looking as possible, I am pretty pleased with how it looks.

Flossie · Feb 19, 2019

My new switch didn't have one either but on mine, at least, it's a tight fit in the gearbox threads and hasn't moved from what it was set at years ago.

flat · Feb 19, 2019

I got rid of the left hand side fog light and turned it into the reverse light so as to keep the same numbers of lights on each side etc.

And yeah lock nut for sure or it vibrates out eventually. I put the lock but on and threaded it all the way up to the switch then when I got the switch wound in enough and had tested it came on each time and I could still get reverse - that’s when I did the lock nut up

Flossie · Feb 19, 2019

The beauty of pattern parts?

Flossie · Feb 19, 2019

I couldn't turn my switch by hand, had to use a spanner.

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 19, 2019

flat said:
I got rid of the left hand side fog light and turned it into the reverse light so as to keep the same numbers of lights on each side etc.

That's what's got me looking at purchasing another side light lol, assuming there's wiring for it on both sides, but I'll get it working with one first as this NAS stuff aint cheap!

flat · Feb 19, 2019

EvangelicAtheist said:
That's what's got me looking at purchasing another side light lol, assuming there's wiring for it on both sides, but I'll get it working with one first as this NAS stuff aint cheap!

Yeah the wiring is there on both sides, it was on mine anyway.

Yeah the MOD bug eye lights are not cheap

EvangelicAtheist · Feb 23, 2019

All wired in and finished.

In the end I used a single wire bulb holder off eBay which is supposed to be bolted to the panel but it protruded too far and fouled the glass so I drilled a 24mm hole and fitted a grommet through which I pushed the bulb holder and just ran a wire from the housing to the earth behind the tail light. Finished it off with a bright LED bulb. I may add a reflective cup to the rear of the housing just to get a bit more light coming out but it works well enough.

Reverse light wiring question

EvangelicAtheist

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EvangelicAtheist

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nobber

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Flossie

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flat

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Flossie

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flat

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Flossie

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flat

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EvangelicAtheist

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