Reverse Lights Permanently On

Hi folks,

I was off-roading at the weekend and since then my reverse lights are on all the time (apart from when I reverse haha). Does anyone know what the problem might be and how it could be fixed?

Many thanks!

Theres wires on the side of the gearbox which tell the light to come on by shorting to negative. i would guess you have snapped a wire on that sensor maybe?

Thank you!

Hi @Riccy, I had a good look and unfortunately couldn't find any wires coming off the gearbox. Where specifically should it be?

Right on top of the box at the front. Double jointed neck and small hands a must!!

It will most likely be the reverse switch on top of the gearbox. Laying on top of the engine, reach around behind the cylinder head and you will find a large nut (24mm?) with 2 wires coming out of it.

Thank you very much for your help. I think I have located it, what do I do now? Just pull it out?

You just need to check the wires are connected still. it will need a large spanner to remove the sensor completely.

Use a multimeter to test the sensor before trying to swap it - continuity should be between the two terminals when its in reverse, not there if not in reverse gear. If thats ok, then its a wire fault somewhere along its length, or a bad earth/negative connection.

Jimnys use negative (-) switching for most electrical stuff so its basically making a connection to negative on the two wires (i.e. one of the wires will be connected to a earthing point somewhere nearby and the other will go the negative terminal of the lamp). the reverse lamp will have a permanent fused live (+) to the bulb and the negative (-) is switched by that sensor on the gearbox.

If your lights are permanently on then theres probably a damaged wire shorting to earth/negative somewhere so i would be checking the wires for damage or fraying somewhere as most likely candidate (if the sensor is ok).

That's great, thank you very much.

Unplug the switch. If the lights go off the problem is the switch.