Yours is a bad switch Max...His may be as well...(not quite stumped
..yet...)
Daryl of AA Transaxle
(425) 788-4070
aatransaxle.com
86 Syncro Westy
Zetec in the trunk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Max Wellhouse" <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>
To: "aatransaxle" <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 8:06 PM
Subject: Re: Backup light switch malfunction - blinking backup lights when
shifting

> I'm wondering if sloppy shift bushings could be causing the problem.  I
> know that when I don't muscle my Vanagon into reverse hard, the reverse
> light won't come on, but to my knowledge, it doesn't blink in the other
> gears.  In one way it's kinda cool as if I don't want the backup lights
> on, I just just gently into reverse.  My switch may be close  to the end
> of its useful life too.  Then there's that ground thing that rears its
> ugly head too.
>
> BTW, if you've stumped Daryl, we all owe you a cookie!!
>
> DM&FS
>
> At 08:47 PM 11/9/2008, aatransaxle wrote:
>>Strange problem...Might be that the backup switch has no washer under
>>it???
>>It might need a bit thicker washer than normal or some such rube goldberg
>>repair to get you by...basically raises the swx a tiny bit so the slop
>>won't
>>make it contact... Never seen the shaft move enough to trigger the switch
>>that I know of..The sleeve that rolls up and pushes the swx pin might be
>>buggered up, but not likely...strange one..
>>Daryl of AA Transaxle
>>(425) 788-4070
>>aatransaxle.com
>>86 Syncro Westy
>>Zetec in the trunk
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "email99" <email99@BELLSOUTH.NET>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2008 6:01 PM
>>Subject: Backup light switch malfunction - blinking backup lights when
>>shifting
>>
>>
>>>I need some help from the VW transmission experts on the list.
>>>
>>>I'm having problems with the backup light switch on my DU 4-speed
>>>(manufacturing date 03 11 3).  It seems the backup lights blink on while
>>>shifting gears and will remain on when in 3rd or 4th gear if I pull
>>>gently on the gear shift.  The backup lights also come on in reverse, as
>>>expected.  Electrically everything is OK and the switch seems to be
>>>working fine.  I suspected it might be a simple adjustment in the
>>>position of the switch.  I tried shimming the switch out a bit with an
>>>additional washer but when I got it to the point that it didn't flash
>>>the lights when shifting gears the backup lights wouldn't come on in
>>>reverse.  I pulled off the cover (094 301 232 A) and the selector shaft
>>>seemed to have more lateral play than I liked.  It looks like it slops
>>>back and forth when shifting gears and this motion activates the backup
>>>light switch at inappropriate times.  Is there a bushing that can be
>>>replaced to minimize this motion?  Has anyone ever seen this and what is
>>>the fix for it?
>>>
>>>I got the transmission from a '84 donor with about 195k miles and I've
>>>put another 100k miles on it since then.  I don't know what had been
>>>done to it before I got it but it has worked flawlessly since I have had
>>>it.  It really works smoothly (thanks Redline MTL).
>>>
>>>Any knowledgeable advice will be appreciated.
>>>
>>>Ed
>