The problem is with the switch on the shifter.  You need to replace the switch and the contact slider piece.  I have both these items in stock but have not put them up on my website yet, they came from VW Classic Parts.

Switch plate, neutral safety & reverse lights, auto shift lever, 311 927 147B - $36.00

Contact piece, neutral safety & reverse switch, auto shift lever, 171 927 145A - $30.00

> On Aug 5, 2015, at 12:00 AM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
> 
> I installed LED backup lights a few months ago.  They worked fine, but now
> they are on all the time.  This is an automatic, so I pulled the blue black
> wire at the shifter switch and measured 5.2v at the wire where there should
> be zero.  This is enough to light the LEDs, but not the old bulbs, which I
> reinstalled.
> 
> 
> 
> Since this wire is in a harness wrapped inside a sheath, I'm thinking the
> only fixes are to leave the old bulbs in or run a new wire.  But, where
> would 5.2v come from?

Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale <http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm>)
Frank Condelli & Associates <http://www.frankcondelli.com/> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
BusFusion <http://www.busfusion.com/> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 04 ~07, 2015