Reverse lights dead - SV21 camry

[ajh]

Hi,

Well, as the title says, the reverse lights on the camry ( 4 spd auto sedan) have died.

I've done the following :

re-aligned reverse light switch on transmission - just in case

checked globes

no seperate fuse for the reverse lights ( well if there is, I'd love to know where!!)

checked connections (plugs)

there is no power at the globe holders, so I'm thinking the switch might be buggered.
Does anyone know of a way to test the switch ???

The switch is the type that has the neutral start switch built in.

Thanks.

[2jzhilux]

check the wires are ok at the boot hinge area
also if your battery has corrosion/leaks it will drip down onto the neutral start switch and corode out the terminals

[horse]

can you start the car ok? i've had the neutral start switch on a friends sv21 move over time and eventually you couldn't start the car. all i did was undo the bolts holding it and re align the switch. this could also be a factor in the reverse lights not operating.

might be worth testing the switch for continuity under reverse position.

There is also the possibility that the actual Neutral start switch has died, so just grab one from a wrecker

[wilbo666]

Hi,

no seperate fuse for the reverse lights ( well if there is, I'd love to know where!!)

It should run off the Gauge fuse from memory...

The position plug on the auto as a switch that closes between common (which is power via Gauge fuse) and whatever gear is selected.

Check to see with a multimeter if the switch is working...

Also on the plug that goes to the position indicator, you should be able to create a bridge from common to Reverse and turn the reverse lights on, this is doing the job of the switch manually! You can trace back reverse on the position plug from the reverse lights using a multimeter, this will also tell you if that wire is OK!

Cheers
Wilbo

[ajh]

Thanks for the advice,

I'll do those checks with the meter, and hopefully find the problem.

The car still starts ok, so the neutral start bit is working.

Bloody electrical faults!!! I hate them!!

Thanks again, I'll reply when I find the problem.

[Dale]

Yeah seconding to check with a multimeter, and unplug the switch when you do it... I had one once that the switch was working but must not have been making a solid enough connection inside for current to flow through it, a relay fixed the problem

[ajh]

FOUND IT !!!!

I tested the switch, turned out to be ok.

The problem was a broken wire in the boot. I suppose it's understandable because this small bundle of wires gets bent every time the boot is opened and shut. After 18 years of bending it finally broke!

Great idea to mount the reverse lights in the bootlid

Anyway, thanks to all who replied, the advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers.