intermiitant reverse lights

[ambibus]

Hi All

A friend asked over the weekend if he could try some LED bulbs in the rear lights and number plate bulb holders of my van. He has bought hundreds of them and wanted to take before and after pictures for flea bay with the offer of a free couple of sets for me in return. the number plate ones looked good but the rest, brake,fog, indicators, looked worse than before with the light concentrated and not diffusing . Although I put gearbox in reverse with engine running the reverse lights did not work with conventional bulbs or LED. a meter test shows power but after replacing with new bulbs they only light now and again.

[igotadizzy]

Could be lots of things unfortunately
I would start at back and work forwards looking for a loose connection or intermitant fault on wiring
Check the lamp units, gearbox switch, fuse box, earthing points and all circuit connections

[billybigspud]

Do they stay on if you hold it in reverse?

[Oldiebut goodie]

As it has power what it is lacking is the earth - someone will correct me if I am wrong but the circuit is completed by the switch on the gearbox creating the earth. This would be my first port of call.

[Cruz]

New switch?

[ambibus]

Thanks all,

I was wondering if the reverse lights were wired in series as I did not check the n/s reverse bulb thinking about it? will check the earths as suggested, cheers