Reverse Lights
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Discussion

2728red

Original Poster:

13 posts

256 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
I am have a single-pole (earth) reverse light switch,with a good earth coming out of the switch and into the main wire. Trouble is the earth has gone by the time it gets to the back of the car. I have replaced the wire in case it was broken, but the problem is still there. Anyone got any ideas - somebody has suggested the switch might be taking too much of the current?

After a 3-month re-condition that is all that is between me, an MOT and the open road!

techsec

633 posts

285 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
If your Jago is equipped with the usual Hella rear light clusters (mind you it is likely on other types of light as well) you require the two terminal reverse light switch not the single terminal one.
The reason for this is the body of the Jago is as you know fibreglass and to operate the reverse lights correctly the twin terminal switch is used.
This has the live coming in from the fuse box and takes the live to the bulbs in the rear light cluster.
The rear light clusters earth wire then completes the circuit.
The switch is isolated from earthing through the gearbox/engine earthing wires.

Where as the single terminal switch as you correctly say uses the gearbox/engine earth to complete the circuit as the switch takes the earth return from the reverse light bulbs.

2728red

Original Poster:

13 posts

256 months

Tuesday 8th June 2004
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Any ideas who stocks twin terminal switches? I rang Emsworth Car & Cycle who still advertise them but no longer have any left.

techsec

633 posts

285 months

Tuesday 8th June 2004
quotequote all
You should be able to get the right switch either from a Ford garage or a motor factors.
It is Ford part number F1652164