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Reverse Lights
SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 01:17 PM

Hey all!

As you are all probably aware (if you've been following my obsessive thread), Zelda will be getting some nice new guards on her in the coming week or two.

Now, my question is, with the current Torana lights I don't have a reverse light. Where should I be looking to find the reverse light wire and so forth?

As it's an L bug, I'm pretty sure they all came with reverse lights, but mine has obviously been removed due to the taillights currently on.

Would love some help on finding them, really want them when I put the new guards and so forth on!


DylanTheDubber - September 9th, 2011 at 01:24 PM

Hey Seb,

Look behind insulation on fire wall sides in engine bay for the wires, they could of been cut but try find them. if you cant find them then you will have to run new wires.

From Dylan


SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 01:42 PM

What wires am I looking for though? Where would they start?
What colour?

Any information is good information :)


DylanTheDubber - September 9th, 2011 at 01:45 PM

i wouldnt worry soo much bout colour, just look in the engine bay where the wires go out the side pannels in engine bay to the gaurds and lights. you should see a wires loose in enigne bay 1 each side or might be cut so just have a look see what you can find. it depends on whats been done to ur car so just get in and start looking (:

From Dylan


Yogie - September 9th, 2011 at 01:45 PM

There is a connector with 2 prongs attached to the drivers side of the gearbox that the wires run from. If it is there, follow the wires in to the engine bay and see where they terminate. If they are not there, you will need to get a connector and then run the wires from it.

Yogie


SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 02:46 PM

Alrighty, took a look into my engine bay and found the following on the passenger side.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g388/SebastienPeek/IMG_0081-1.jpg

The blue one that I am holding runs above the fan housing and down the drivers side of the engine bay and into here.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g388/SebastienPeek/IMG_0082.jpg

I'm assuming, that the wire chopped on the little connector thingy on that comes off the actual harness in the first photo (it looks like it used to be a yellow wire) was supposed to go into the thing that the blue wire comes off of.
Hence, that is my reverse lights, I'm pretty sure...

Anyone got any photos of the setup with the reverse light wires attached?


Joel - September 9th, 2011 at 03:57 PM

Your bug has had a towbar in a past life which is all those nasty splice connectors.

Reverse light wiring is really simple, goes from the coil through a fuse down to the reverse light switch on the nose cone and back up to the splitter behind the fanhousing like this which goes to each side.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6070496630_9f864b208e_z.jpg


SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 04:00 PM

Yeah, I had thought it had had one a while ago, I noticed some marks and thought, damn that looks like a towbar.

Alright, I'll try and get underneath her to find out what is going on, hopefully I can get reverse lights back on her.
If I don't, however, will I get into trouble with the law?

My Torana lights don't have them, and I haven't gotten into trouble with those on, so maybe I could get away with it...


Joel - September 9th, 2011 at 04:06 PM

LH Toranas used to light up the indicators as reverse lights.

try and find some original 68-71 tail light lenses that dont have the reverse lights.

most people only fuss if they are there and dont work.
if it doesnt appear to have them most people don't know any different on old cars.


SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 04:12 PM

And there we go, learn something new and have a fix!

Thanks Joel!


68AutoBug - September 9th, 2011 at 06:48 PM

Yes
if
You have reverse lights on your car make sure they work
as Joel said, it can cause problems...

I think all L beetle tail lamps had reverse lamps built in...

Lee


SebastienPeek - September 9th, 2011 at 07:54 PM

Yes Lee, all L bug elephant feet had reverse lamps, but good thing I'm getting tombstones on mine :)


Joel - September 10th, 2011 at 09:42 AM

They did make elephants feet Lbug tail lights without reverse lights but you will never find a set, they were only on the European 1303A which was the ghetto spec 1200 Lbugs.

I've only ever seen 2 bugs overseas that still have them.

it wont be hard to get your reverse lights working.


SebastienPeek - September 10th, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Woah, I didn't know that at all! History lessons of the 1303 from Joel.

Yeah, going to have a look at it now and see what's going on, hopefully it shouldn't be too hard.


Joel - September 10th, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Beetle specs varied so much from country to country.
particually so when you start talking the 70s 1200 bugs in Europe.

Really spins the yanks on the samba out when they see one.
what? no reverse lights, no decklid vents, no dashpad, no headliner, 1200 engine, 6 volt?? GTFO!

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/2926/bildekn.jpg


SebastienPeek - September 10th, 2011 at 10:45 AM

LOL that is crazy!

Good thing I'm doing the ventless decklid, soon too, just need to get some bog and some touch up paint, and then some LED's and boom, she'll be good.
Tombstone taillights too. Albeit not period specific, but prefer them.

But you're right, the elephant feet do look a little weird without reverse lights...