reverse lights

[amel6000]

I have another problem with my car!!!
The reverse lights are temperamental and only work when they want to
I have changed the reverse switch three times and about to get a fourth
Is this a common problem or have I done something wrong!!!
:mad:

[SCANDINAVIAN13]

If you're changed the switch several times, I doubt it's the switch.

[InSepsis]

your connections on the light itself might be loose and you are not getting enough power to the lights, take the lights apart and sand off all the connections and see if that fixes it.

i had a problem where most of my lighting did not work in the back and now i have everything except reverse working by doing what I said above...

every now and then the lights will stop working, but I have new tail lights coming in soon so that should do a full fix hopefully.

[Haelo]

Check the bulb and socket like mentioned above. A good idea would be to get a test light (they're like $10) and check to see if electricity is getting to the socket. Put the car in reverse and check test at the bulb contacts, the wires going into the socket. If it's not getting power there, check to see if power is coming out of the switch... If the switch is sending power and the socket isn't receiving it, you probably have a broken wire. The first spot to look for the broken wire would be the flexible hose that the wires run through to get to the trunk lid... opening and closing the trunk wears them out and breaks them over time.

[stephenslyman]

If you're changed the switch several times, I doubt it's the switch.

hes right!
put it into reverse and leave it in gear with handbrake on. it will kill the engine and leave the reverse lights on. that way you can test what the lads are saying above.... i wouldnt advise buying another switch. obviously not the problem

[amel6000]

i have checked all the wires and they are all ok, bulbs & light units are working fine the switch is the problem. i check it works before putting it in and after a while it fails! i have found that depending on the position of the car it works fine ie up hill but not down hill (strange!!!!)

[InSepsis]

yeah, just replace your switch, it should be mounted on the side of your transmission.

about a 15 minute repair job, if even that.

[jkk919]

'97 328i 5spd 4dr. 220k
I had a similar problem a while back.
I had 2 problems.
1. back up lights intermittently work/don't
2. lic. plate light on 1 side didn't work.

I ended up replacing the neutral safety switch and sanding the bulb recepticals with no difference. It too appeared to be random. I even switched bulbs from one side to the other on the license plate.

I'm not sure what exactly I ended up doing b/c I was so frustrated.
I did discover something that fixed the license plate light problem. And amazingly the backup light prob went away (go figure b/c it's not on the same wire as far as I can tell).

The wire bundle coming down from the license plate has to bend around the trunk hinge. It's wrapped in rubber but I noticed that it was fraying. When I removed the rubber and took a closer look I found a number (like 3) of wires frayed completly through.
Sure enough 1 of them was the left license plate light.
Resoldered the wire together and presto.

Now here is where the wierdness comes in. My backup lights started working too.
There shouldn't be any connection but I swear I don't remember doing anything else to fix the backup lights.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj139/jkk919/bmw02a.jpg

[Pasadena325]

yeah, just replace your switch, it should be mounted on the side of your transmission.

about a 15 minute repair job, if even that.

Hello,
I'd also like to check my backup light switch. Is this something I can get to from inside the car or do I have to get underneath it. I don't have any ramps to get under it. If anyone has a picture of the switch location or a more detailed description of its location, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance to all.
:thumbup: