Date:         Thu, 26 Jun 2003 07:41:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Thomas Brobst <TJBROBS@ACCUSORT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Thomas Brobst <TJBROBS@ACCUSORT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Reverse light madness
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I hate when that happens!
Your conclusion sounds as reasonable as can be under the circumstances.
If you really hate to part with the $15 or so for a switch you could try spraying or soaking it with WD-40.
It might be more troube thatn it's worth, though.



Thomas Brobst
Accu-Sort Systems, Inc
Staff Mechanical Engineer
215-721-5061
fax 215-799-1600

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? -Albert Einstein 



>>> Blake Thornton <blake@math.wustl.ed> 6/25/03 >>>
I posted earlier that my reverse lights are always on.  So, on Thomas' 
suggestion for some trouble shooting, this is what I found:

There are two wires, lets call them A and B, going to the connectors on 
the switch on the transmission.  Lets label the connections on the switch 
on the tranny C and D.

If we unplug the wires, the reverse lights go out (which is good).  Now, 
unplugged, here are the resistances and voltages:

Ignition off:
AB:  16 Ohms, 0 Volts

Ignition on:
AB: 12 Volts (didn't want to measure ohms and blow my voltmeter)

Transmission in reverse:
CD: 0 Ohms.

Tranny in neutral:
CD: infinite ohms.

Everything seems to be working as it should be working.

Conclusion??????
I conclude that the switch is faulty and that when there is a substantial 
voltage applied (ie, 12V), the current actually flows.  When there is not 
enough voltage applied (ie, what my voltmeter applies), the current does 
not flow.

My fix: replace the switch in the tranny.

Anyone agree with these conclusions?????  I'm still a bit new at this 
trouble shooting game.  Should I order the switch?

Blake
84 Westy
St Louis, MO