[T3] Backup Lights

[Jim Adney]

Gary,

I've had trouble with the backup lights on my '69, too. Like yours, 
all my ducks also seemed to be lined up. In my case, I found that the 
problem was that the rear bumper was not grounded, even though it was 
securely bolted to the body.

Frankly, I wondered all summer whether the '69 backup lights were 
working, but I never thought about it when it was a good time to test 
them.

The backup lights are turned on by the switch which is screwed into 
the nose of the transmission. That switch is generally pretty 
reliable. It's actuated by a bump on the "hockey stick" when you 
shift into R.

The power leading to the switch comes from an extra wire on the hot 
side of the coil. There is an inline fuse on that wire, so check the 
fuse.

Use your voltmeter to check for voltage at the bulb socket. Check 
from a good ground on the engine; don't assume the bumper is a good 
ground. That had me going around in circles.

With the tranny in R, check to see if there's 12 V on the bumper. If 
there is, loosen and retighten the 4 bumper bolts.

Jim

On 2 Oct 2016 at 16:25, Gary Forsmo wrote:

> Returning at night, I had to back into our "driveway" in front of our
> motorhome.  The space for two cars is a tight fit -- both in length and
> width.
> Without the two backup lights to illuminate the space, Beverly had to guide
> me in using only the red tail lights and the 3 rear view mirrors.  Awkward.
> 
> It seems that the 12-volt wire(?) is connected & tight to each fixture.
> I've started the engine; put the transmission in reverse, several times.
> No lights.
> 
> 
>    1. Is the next "check point" the Back Up Switch itself?
>    2. Is the switch activated electrically? or mechanically? ... when the
>    MT Shift Lever is put in reverse?
>    3. Where is the Back Up Switch physically located?
>    4. Easy to remove and install?
>    5. Is a Back Up switch typically a part which fails?
> 
> 
> -- 
> Gary "Frito" - '69 Squareback, FI, MT, One-owner
> Rockport, TX (winter)
> Lake Geneva, WI (summer)
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-- 
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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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