reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

[Satnam]

02 golf tdi 5spd
my reverse lights havent worked in a few years, sometimes they do flicker on.
eventually I will fix it, but the problem is probably 1 of 2 things.
there's a switch on the transmission to indicate reverse, and then it could also be the linkage (sloppy).
mechanically the transmission shifts and works fine except for the odd missed shift due to faster than normal accelleration.

anyone else had this problem? and what was the issue?

[vee_dubbin]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

I would check the bulb holders in the tailights for corrosion in the connecters and on the bulb holders themselves first. I have changed a few reverse switches on the tranny as well, so can't rule that out either.

[Satnam]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

yeah, most likely it will be the switch, the holders are like new (7 year old) sans corrosion.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

the switch is probably fine. check for broken wires at the switch. they are not long enough and get stretched and brake.

[Satnam]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

I tried looking at the transmission last night, but couldn't see a 6 wire connector for the switch (if that's what I should look for).

Would someone point me in the area of the transmission I should be looking at?

If it's the switch, it mustn't fail much, searching vortex, tdiclub, web, doesn't really produce any valid or related hits.

[stefan]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

i'd think that switch triggers a variable that you can see on a vagcom. i'm searching where it would be, and don't see it. but every other control turns a 0 to a 1 somewhere on the OBD2 output... Would be a good check, if I knew where to look!

[Satnam]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

finally
after a few months of this post (years since the problem), I looked at it.

I couldn't find my bentley manual, don't like the eBahn reader manual - license locked to old laptop....purchased a PDF Bentley Manual 99 - '05 golf, jetta...
(Can be made available to paying club members)

1. needed to remove airbox to access, inspect reverse switch

the switch is just infront of the shifter counterweight (not visible in picture above).

2. looked at switch....Brown/Black wire is broken:



To get the connector off, the reverse switch needed to be loosened a bit to get to the release tab.

3. connector, the remaining wire (red/green) is almost broken off too:


I didn't have the pin removal tool .... so after lots of struggling, eventually the pins were removed and wires repaired. (used old pins, and soldered wires to them.

Tested, reverse lights work fine.

There was a lot of wire on this connector, so it wasn't a stretch, break issue. Just stressed, since the engine/transmission vibrates a lot, it bends the wires at the same point continually and causing it to break over time.

Transmission is 5 speed manual BTW.

Satnam

[vee_dubbin]

Re: reverse switch or selector cable adjustment?

Nice....at least it was a cheap fix.