I have a spotlight mounted on my roof with the handle inside within
driver's reach,  just by the inside mirror.   I use that as my back up
light as well as my campsight-finding light, my around the camp work light,
and various other things...One of my better improvements on my van, an idea
carried over from an old splt-window 36 hp cargo panel van I once had...

On Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 5:53 PM, Gene P <olgreywoof@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Ben.  Note to myself: THINK!  I know that stuff.
>
> OK, overs.  87 Wolfsburg, manual, the backup switch with the separate spade
> connectors.  Also, I've added a relay so the wire from the switch is only
> triggering the relay, power for the lights picked up in the wiring box.
> New tests with a jumper wire:
> 1. Power directly to the feed to the lights, bypassing everything except
> wiring from the wiring box to the lights - lights stay on!  (Eliminating
> bulbs and wiring at the taillights.)
> 2. Pull wires from relay and jump feed from switch to feed to lights
> (bypassing relay) - lights go out. (Eliminating relay as cause.)
> 3. Jump from switch to relay, bypassing harness wiring - lights go out.
> 4. Jump from power source to supply side of switch, eliminating wiring from
> dash to switch - lights go out.
>
> I'm just learning electrical, but seems I've eliminated everything except
> the switch.  And you say a bad switch can cause these symptoms.  In each
> test, I can keep the lights on by backing very smoothly, riding the clutch
> -- either backing abruptly or stopping causes the lights to go out.  If a
> bad switch can do that, I need a switch.
>
> Thanks much,
> gp
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 11:48 PM, Ben <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Gene,
> >
> > It's important to specify which transmission you have. The automatics
> have
> > their back-up light switches at the shifter console. Whereas, the manual
> > trans have their switches at the nose come area. Jostling a loose wire
> can
> > cause such a problem. A defective switch or bulb can similarly give those
> > symptoms.
> >
> >
> > BenT
> > sent from my electronic leash
> >
> > > On Oct 29, 2013, at 11:26 PM, Gene P <olgreywoof@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > >
> > > Question: how can motion extinguish the back-up lights?
> > > Symptom:
> > > 1. engine off (ignition on), gear in reverse - lights work
> > > 2. engine on, gear in reverse - lights work
> > > 3. begin to back up, within 10 feet (2 or 3 seconds) lights go out
> > >
> > > I've gone through these variations many times and it does this every
> > > time.  Since everything works while my head is in the engine bay, what
> > > can I check?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > GeneP
> >
>