Reversing Lights Stopped Working? Advice Please

[The Equalizer]

Hi Y'all

 

My beloved C8 has just limped out of the warranty period & all of a sudden my reversing lights have stopped working?

 

I have checked the bulbs & the fuse, all are fine. So the only other option I can see is the reversing light switch.

 

I popped the bonnet today & had a look around to try to find it, which is tricky as there is not a lot of the gearbox to see, & that is where the switch is I;d have thought.

 

I found a small black plastic clip with a couple of wires that I could just about reach, so I gave it a wiggle, but it made no diference.

 

I just wondered if anyone had any pics of the switch so that I can identify it, where it lives, & how to get at it.

 

Many Thanks

 

Equalizer

[Johndouglas]

Have you checked the fuse? Could be a 10amp fuse No 1 in the engine fuse box.

[The Equalizer]

Hi JD

 

Yeah, I physically checked the fuse. Also a double check is that I think the fuse was also connected to my full beam. (can't remember) & that was fine.

 

Either way the fuse is good?

 

Cheers

 

E

[Johndouglas]

If the fuse is OK then you'll need to check the switch. Probably your C8 is the same as the C5. To get at the switch the air cleaner box and trunking has to be moved.

[iannez]

there straight forward to change but there are 2 different types and if you fit the wrong one it bends a gear selector in the gearbox and blocks first and second gear. take it to a dealer for peice of mind and if they fit the wrong one it will be down to them to fix it. not worth the risk for the sake of half an hours labor. the bill will be atleast £500 if you fit the wrong one if the dealer are willing to split the box to repair it. if there not it will cost over £1000 to supply and fit a new box. should cost no more than £50 to supply and fit a new switch.

[The Equalizer]

Not sure about that price iannez?

 

I'd be very happy to pay £50.

 

I got a quote from them to fit a dog cage in the car & it was £130.

 

£69 for the cage & just over £60 for the labour.

 

So I got the cage & fitted it myself, & it was a 5 minute job, 2 wingnuts on the floor anchors at the back.

 

I lost total faith in main dealers after that, they seem to think that they can bill in hourly increments, minimum of an hours labour, at £60 an hour.

 

But I do take your point, sorry about my rant, but I get pi$$ed off with people trying to rip off the general public.

 

I'll ring & get a quote.

 

Regards

 

E

[The Equalizer]

Just been on to my local Main dealer that I bought the car from & have done the servicing & warranty issues.

 

The service dept said that there will be a charge of £79.99 for diagnosis/ 1 hours labour, plus parts. I explained that I am 90% sure that the reversing light switch is the culprit, so a simple supply & fit should do the trick.

 

The service dept said that it ONLY cost me the £79.99 plus the parts.

 

Cheeky sods. See what I mean about taking liberties.

 

I'm just waiting for the spares dept to get back to me with a price for the part, then I can add it to the £79.99 to cost the job.

 

Citroen Motorsales Harlow, Never Again.

 

Regards

 

E

[iannez]

just ask them to fit the switch. they cant make you have a diag check. the sensor is a 22mm hex and is in the top of the gearbox. remove the plug and bridge out the 2 pins with a split pin or bit wire and check to see if the reverse lights come on. if they do its the switch. if we do a diag check we charge £30 then if we get the work to do the price of the diag check is taken off the cost of the repair so the diag check is free as long as we get the work. your right tho. some garages dont know what to charge.

[The Equalizer]

Hey iannez

 

TBH mate. I am seriously thinking about giving it a go myself.

 

Motorsales seemed pretty non negotiable on the minimum price of £79.99.

 

I just heard back from the spares dept, & the cost of the switch is £7.95.

 

Can't I do the shorting out test & if its the switch, then take out the old one & compare it to the new one to be sure its the right sized one & then put it in.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm ok with paying garage prices when I can afford to & its a job that requires a professional, servicing, exhaust, mechanical problems etc, but to replace this screw in switch is gonna set me back £90 all in for a part that costs less than a tenner & is easy to access.

 

I'd rather save the £90 & use against a service & MOT which is due later in the year.

 

I do most of the mechanical works on my motorbikes so I'm not a total numpty with a spanner, or set of deep sockets?

 

I would always accept advice from pro's like yourselves. :unsure:

 

Cheers

 

E

[Johndouglas]

Can't I do the shorting out test & if its the switch, then take out the old one & compare it to the new one to be sure its the right sized one & then put it in.

 

If you take the old one to compare, can't see where you can go wrong.

[The Equalizer]

I hope your right JD.

 

They might be my famously last words.. lol

 

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of choice, financially, I am gonna have to.

 

For all my belly aching about main dealers & there labour prices. Its more a case of current financial climate making the decisions.

 

Yeah I know if i bugger it up it could be £1000 I have to lay out, but sometimes, a calculated risk is worth taking.

 

Especially as I have been forewarned about what to look out for, from kind members of this forum.

 

It'll be a few weeks before I can do the job as the wife is running around in for some time & has things to do she can't put off.

 

I told her that I would want the car for a full day to take off the air filter box, test the reversing light switch, go get new one if needed, fit, test, then replace air box.

 

I'll report back as soon as I done the work.

 

Gratefully yours

 

E

[iannez]

follow johns advice then mate and make sure 100% its the same length as the old one. £90 is a fortune to fit one of these. i've only seen this fault happen once but the work involved to put it right was scary. at least you will double check now rather than banging it straight in. if its orderd off vin number and checked against old one you should have no probs. you will need a deep 22mm socket to do the job.

[The Equalizer]

Cheers iannez

 

I got some deep sockets, so thats not a problem.

 

Anything I should know about getting the Airbox off, or is it pretty straight forward?

 

Regards

 

E

[The Equalizer]

Hi Y'all

 

I did the job the other day, (Had trouble getting on the forum for a few days)

 

Anyhow, a nice simple job, exactly as Johndouglas said.

 

The Airbox came out easily enough, you got to take the top off it off first by disconnecting the pipe to the rear of the top of the air box. Then just manouvre it out of the small bonnet opening.

 

A 22mm deep socket exactly as iannez said. one i & one out. Job done.

 

The part cost me £7.49.

 

I tried to negotiate with citroen, but they were sticking with there £79.99 minimum charge. :unsure:

 

So they lost out.

 

The whole job took me about 20 minutes, & thats coz I took my time.

 

Many thanks to Johndouglas & iannez for their invaluable advise. :D

 

Regards

 

E

[paul.h]

See also this topic where the parking sensors and reverse lights were not working but were fixed by simple by cleaning the multi function switch contacts http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/21170-rear-parking-sensors-c8/?do=findComment&comment=88697