Date:         Tue, 20 Nov 2001 17:54:42 -0800
Reply-To:     Joel Sell <jsell@PHILA.K12.PA.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Sell <jsell@PHILA.K12.PA.US>
Subject:      Dim reverse light fix (for auto tranny)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Before I ran into the problem I mentioned in my previous posting, I was
trying to figure out why my reverse lights were REALLY dim. The VW service
manual wasn't much help in locating the reverse switch, but I managed to
find it inside the shifter housing. The shifter housing has four screws
holding it down. You have to lift up the carpet to find them. Once you get
the screws off, it takes a bit of maneuvering to get the housing up, but it
does come. Inside is the long pole thing that you move forward and
backwards to select which gear you want. On the passenger side of it is a
plastic thing with four wires on it. The two towards the rear of the van
(black with blue stripe) are the reverse light wires. I took some fine grit
sandpaper and cleaned all the crud off of the contacts and then lightly
greased them. Also, on the gear selector pole is a small metal piece that
makes the connection between the two wires when you put it in reverse. I
sanded and greased that, too.I turned the key on, put it in reverse and
went around to look. WOW! Bright lights. If your reverse lights are dim, or
don't work at all, you might want to try this.
Good luck,
Joel