Reverse lights stopped working.
I replaced my engine battery in my hybrid car. There was an issue getting the battery out, as it appeared to be the original battery that came with the car in 2006. Shortly after the replacement, I noticed my reverse lights stopped working. I checked the bulbs, they were fine. Checked the fuses, they were fine. My friend thinks it might be the relay box. Which of course is a more expensive repair. My brake lights are fine, except one has gone out, but we believe it is the bulb.
I am wondering if anyone has ever heard of such a thing happening with the hybrids?
I do know certain types of rep
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thanks for writing in. If your reverse lights are not working, then it may be possible that your reverse light switch has gone out. As the name implies, the reverse light switch is the component that controls the reverse lights. It is mounted on the transmission, and when it goes bad can cause the reverse lights to malfunction. If the switch is good, then it may be possible that the problem is engine related. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect this light issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Reverse light relay wiring
You usually don`t need a relay for power consumption under 60 watts.
The backup light switch is the electronic switch on a vehicle that is responsible for activating the vehicle`s reverse lights. The switches work by activating the lights when the transmission is put into reverse gear.
While there is usually a legend in the fuse panel lid, a more detailed version is usually in the owner`s handbook, and, this may help as some fuses supply more than one item in many cases. There should be a fuse panel behind the coin tray, fuse 18 is for reverse lights.
First check that the bulbholder and wiring terminals are clean and bright. If there is any corrosion, clean it up with wet-or-dry paper then refit the bulb and retest. If the bulb still fails to light, the fuse may have blown. You should also suspect a blown fuse if two reversing lights go together.
How do you test reverse power trip? Reverse power trip can be tested by load shifting with the help of Governor control. when the Load has shifted sufficiently from the generator to be offloaded (Nearly 10% of the max rated ), reverse power relay will open the ACB of the same generator.
A backup light switch screws into the transmission and is triggered when you shift the vehicle into reverse. If the switch is functioning normally, a circuit is completed when the switch is triggered and the white lights in the tail lights will illuminate, indicating to other drivers that you are backing up.
The gearbox pushes it down (pushing the switch) when in forwards gears which opens the circuit and turns the lights off. In reverse it lifts up and closes the circuit which turns the lights on.
The fuse is actually under the USM module which is located to the right of the 12v battery under the bonnet…
An automatic transmission reverse light switch is generally integrated in the Range selector switch and even though the total range selector switch is generally more complex in operation, the reverse switch function remains the same for both manual and automatic transmissions.
Light switch issues are often caused by a broken mechanism. If there are any mechanical issues, the switch will likely need to be replaced. Signs of mechanical failure include the switch not turning on regardless of how many times you flip it.
Short Circuit in Electrical Wiring
If you have several light switches or light fixtures that are not working then there may be a short in the electrical wiring, or most likely a loose connection has developed.
Mechanical or Hydraulic switch, activates the reverse lights of the vehicle as soon as the transmission is engaged. There are two primary types of reverse light switches. On a manual transmissions the switch usually screws into the gearbox casing; This type of switch has two terminals.
Mechanical or Hydraulic switch, activates the reverse lights of the vehicle as soon as the transmission is engaged. There are two primary types of reverse light switches. On a manual transmissions the switch usually screws into the gearbox casing; This type of switch has two terminals.
These relays typically have two sets of contacts, one set for each direction of the motor. When the relay coil is energized, it switches the power supply to the appropriate set of contacts, reversing the polarity of the motor and causing it to rotate in the opposite direction.
A reverse power relay helps in monitoring the power in the generator, it detects a reverse power condition, and the relay immediately removes the connection to the parallel utility or other power source, hence protecting the generator from damage.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
All dashboard lights and tail lights do not work after driving through a lot of snow. Headlights work. And brake lights work.
ANSWER : Hello. We’ll be happy to help you. There are a few things that I recommend checking to discover why your lighting system is malfunctioning. The headlight dimmer switch should be checked. Along with the wiring harness above the right front tire behind the fender well cover. Also
the main fuse under the hood should be inspected because other people with your particular vehicle have had similar lighting issues if that fuse goes bad. It will be a great idea to check the rest of the fuses in that area too while checking the main fuse. Once the fuses are checked inside of the main fuse box then I would check the fuses inside of their interior fuse box. The interior fuse box should be located on the driver side of the dashboard near where your legs would be. If you need more assistance with repairing your vehicle please keep in mind that our organization provides Mobile Mechanics who can help you diagnose and repair your vehicle, all at competitive rates.
the main fuse under the hood should be inspected because other people with your particular vehicle have had similar lighting issues if that fuse goes bad. It will be a great idea to check the rest of the fuses in that area too while checking the main fuse. Once the fuses are checked inside of the main fuse box then I would check the fuses inside of their interior fuse box. The interior fuse box should be located on the driver side of the dashboard near where your legs would be. If you need more assistance with repairing your vehicle please keep in mind that our organization provides Mobile Mechanics who can help you diagnose and repair your vehicle, all at competitive rates.
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Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
Dash, Tail/brake, dome, trunk, glovebox, and door lights won’t work, dash doing weird things.
ANSWER : Hi there. Sure would appear a lot is going on electrically all at once. This could be, a problem in the PDC (power distribution center). The PDC is typically located under the hood and contains numerous fuses and relays. I don’t believe any one fuse will resolve all of the electrical issues. There is a possibility, it is not a power supply issue. It may be, the result of a poor electrical ground common to the inoperative components. Proper circuit testing should be performed. This would confirm the cause of multiple electrical failures. I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical problems be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.
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Honda Civic 2008. AC stopped working suddenly and engine check light came ON for a day.Next day AC worked and no engine light.
ANSWER : Hi there. In both cases, when an AC system is not working and a warning light is coming on the dashboard, typically a professional mechanic will complete the same initial inspection, which is to download the stored error codes that triggered the warning light initially. This tends to give them an idea as to what is causing the problems. This could be something as simple as an electrical relay that is faulty or loose or an indication of a computer related "glitch". Either way, the best way to move forward is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
My dash board don’t work my front light work when I change my light into high beam and my back window won’t go down
ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
Brake lights on trunk not working
ANSWER : For some reason, when consulting the wiring diagram, I don’t see a trunk mounted brake light listed. I only see the high mount (one in the rear window) listed. Regardless, if the trunk bulb is not working with a new bulb, there is a problem with the circuit. Check for both power and ground at the bulb. Once you’ve determined which is lacking, you’ll have to trace the circuit to determine where the problem lies. Since you said all of the other brake lights work, the cruise control is likely unrelated. Electrical diagnosis can be difficult, so I suggest you have a trained professional tackle the problem with your brake lights for you.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
signals, daytime running lights are not working, park brake light on dash is on steady and chime is dinging steady 4×4 wont engage
ANSWER : This is likely a brake light switch problem. I would suggest testing the brake light switch which should be located down by the brake pedal. This may also be a computer problem as well as indicated by the other lights on in the dash. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to possibly replace the brake light switch and diagnose with a scanning tool which will download useful data from the truck’s computer indicating what specifically the problem may be.
Read Full Q/A … : Reverse lights stopped working.
