Reversing Lights No Show, Any tips on how to revive them?

[mcmoonter]

The reversing lights on my '96 2.1td estate have suddenly failed to go on. The Haynes manual and the handbook says that the fuse is shared with the instrument panel lighting and interior light dimming switch. They work fine, the fuse is in tact. I whipped out the reversing light switch and tested it. It works fine too, completeing the circuit when the plunger is depressed.

Before I start tearing things apart, I thought I best check where the most obvious, common failure point is likely to be. Any ideas?

I reread a couple of previous threads, a couple suggest the point at which the harness comes from the body shell to the tailgate. First line of attack? You decide.

MC

[xmexclusive]

Hi McM

There is a rubber sheathed bundle of wires both sides of the tailgate, not easy to get at and a lot of difficult to identify wires to sort through. It might just be be worth starting at the bulbs and running a temporary wire and check out whether providing a battery terminal direct earth or direct 12v gets the lights working again. If this is successful then you will have narrowed down which wire the problem is in. There are sets of connector blocks for the tailgate cables in the chassis cross member with holes to get to them from the underside by the tailgate hinges.
Hope this helps.

Regards

XMexc

[mcmoonter]

Reversing light joy!

Had a peek again at the tailgate to fix the no show lights.

Prised open the rubber flexi bollowed gromet twixt tailgate and body to find the offending feed wire neatly cut in two. A quick connector and the lights came back. 10 minutes max. I wish all jobs were so straightforward.

Thanks XMexc for pointing me in the right direction.

MC