Reverse Lights U/S
 

Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
reverse lights. What else is there to check?

Thanks.
Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

The switch on the tranny.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

The switch on the tranny.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

The switch on the tranny.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

There is a switch that detects that Reverse is selected, this switch needs
to be looked at to see that the linkage to it is adjusted well. The switch
can fail, but normally the linkage is maladjusted. Position your XJ so that
you can see the rear lights reflecting in a window. I generally notice that
most office buildings with ground floor windows will allow me to do a light
check if I back into a parking space near the windows. I shift into R, turn
the lights on and off, and hit the brakes while the lights are both on and
off. I also run the blinkers for a few clicks of the flasher.

What you want to do is shift into R, then move the shift lever a little bit
to both sides of the detent to see if you can force the back up lights to
come on and go off. You will probably find that you can, and this means the
linkage is adjusted poorly. You can determine which way makes the light come
reliably, then adjust the linkage so it hits the switch better in the normal
detent position.

You can also do this test with a helper, but normally my helpers don't
understand the goal and they consequently don't help very much. Once you do
the window reflector test and figure out if the linkage is not adjusted
well, then you can direct the helper to give you the information you need,
and this will help you perform the actual adjustement at home.




"Snow" <snowball_2004@msn.com> wrote in message
news:q48qb.6741$fg4.257637@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ,
most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time
no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...
>
>

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

There is a switch that detects that Reverse is selected, this switch needs
to be looked at to see that the linkage to it is adjusted well. The switch
can fail, but normally the linkage is maladjusted. Position your XJ so that
you can see the rear lights reflecting in a window. I generally notice that
most office buildings with ground floor windows will allow me to do a light
check if I back into a parking space near the windows. I shift into R, turn
the lights on and off, and hit the brakes while the lights are both on and
off. I also run the blinkers for a few clicks of the flasher.

What you want to do is shift into R, then move the shift lever a little bit
to both sides of the detent to see if you can force the back up lights to
come on and go off. You will probably find that you can, and this means the
linkage is adjusted poorly. You can determine which way makes the light come
reliably, then adjust the linkage so it hits the switch better in the normal
detent position.

You can also do this test with a helper, but normally my helpers don't
understand the goal and they consequently don't help very much. Once you do
the window reflector test and figure out if the linkage is not adjusted
well, then you can direct the helper to give you the information you need,
and this will help you perform the actual adjustement at home.




"Snow" <snowball_2004@msn.com> wrote in message
news:q48qb.6741$fg4.257637@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ,
most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time
no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...
>
>

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

There is a switch that detects that Reverse is selected, this switch needs
to be looked at to see that the linkage to it is adjusted well. The switch
can fail, but normally the linkage is maladjusted. Position your XJ so that
you can see the rear lights reflecting in a window. I generally notice that
most office buildings with ground floor windows will allow me to do a light
check if I back into a parking space near the windows. I shift into R, turn
the lights on and off, and hit the brakes while the lights are both on and
off. I also run the blinkers for a few clicks of the flasher.

What you want to do is shift into R, then move the shift lever a little bit
to both sides of the detent to see if you can force the back up lights to
come on and go off. You will probably find that you can, and this means the
linkage is adjusted poorly. You can determine which way makes the light come
reliably, then adjust the linkage so it hits the switch better in the normal
detent position.

You can also do this test with a helper, but normally my helpers don't
understand the goal and they consequently don't help very much. Once you do
the window reflector test and figure out if the linkage is not adjusted
well, then you can direct the helper to give you the information you need,
and this will help you perform the actual adjustement at home.




"Snow" <snowball_2004@msn.com> wrote in message
news:q48qb.6741$fg4.257637@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ,
most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time
no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...
>
>

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

http://www.dirtdevils.org/briantechtippage.htm
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

http://www.dirtdevils.org/briantechtippage.htm
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...

Re: Reverse Lights U/S
 

http://www.dirtdevils.org/briantechtippage.htm
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Snow wrote:
>
> Ok small puzzling thing happening with the reverse lights on my XJ, most
> of the time they do not function, I have checked the bulbs, ground and
> voltages. When I check them they all seem to work, but yet 1/2 the time no
> reverse lights. What else is there to check?
>
> Thanks.
> Snow...