reverse lights

[ermie571]

Hi folks,

I have purchased a set of red rear lights from a member - and after a bit of bother with the courier, they are on the van and look wicked!!!!
But>>> I have red reversing lights

Think I remember reading that reverse lights aren't MOT requirement.....but if they are red do I need to disable them??
The chap who I bought them off said they had gone through MOT no worries.

Also, can I put a spot light on the high top that i can switch on if i need light to reverse?



Finally, I got the units complete - lens and back. But when I took mine off, the pins had a different arrangment. There is a maximum of 6 pins on the pug that plugs into the light back. The one on the drivers side that I took off had all 6 pins....but the passenger side had side had 5. The ones that came with the lens had different again. All have different codes on the back of the bulb holder part - ending in E, F and H!!!!

So, as the new lenses fitted the old holders, I re-used the ones that were on there.
Did different vans have different lighting systems??

ta
Em
x

[Aidan]

Em
the red ones are from america, ie lhd so no reverse light on off side, and they use bright section for stop light I think and maybe no reverse light nearside (I don't know if a requirement) , I'd fit an aux one in white and wire it to the loom so it's automatic rather than having to remember to use it, I don't know if there's a max brightness, red westie will know I think he's a mot tester
Your old backplates will be uk spec so keep to those

[bigherb]

Sounds like american rear lights, they where wired up differently cancelling the brakelight on one side and then using that as the indicator bulb. Not sure how they got through an MOT without an amber indicator. Reverse lights are not part of the MOT but maximum wattage is 21 watts anything higher such as work lights can only be used when stationary.

[CycloneMike]

Reverse lights are optional not obligatory.
But if fitted must:
Be no more than 2
Be white
Bulbs no more than 24W each
Auto switched by reverse gear or telltale (dash) light illuminated when on.
If vehicle first used after 01/04/86 must have approval markings.
Any thing else is a work light and as above can only be used when stationary.

[ermie571]

Wow.....thanks for all the info!

ok, so if I am going to leave the units on, I have to unplug from the gear box.
Can't see the point of an ancillary unit, when I have a set that are perfectly good.

So, have to decide whether or not a reverse light is important to me....

Useful to know where they came from though.

Thanks again, all who replied!

Em
x

[fullsunian]

As other folks have said.. reverse lamps are not part of test no matter how many fitted and wired up, but indicators need to show yellow/amber when flashing. Also make sure those rear lens have reflectors fitted as they are a testable item too. If not get down halfords and stick two on the rear bumper
IAN

[ermie571]

Its really unusual - it almost looks like the white reverse lens has been cut out and a red one inserted.
The amber ones are present, and work as standard (tested) and the reflectors are present (thanks Ian!)

there is a small gap round the inserted red lens....which makes me think that they are "modified"

ta again

Em
x

[CycloneMike]

As other folks have said.. reverse lamps are not part of test no matter how many fitted and wired up
IAN

Sorry to clarify what I wrote above are the requirements of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs, which you are supposed to comply with all year round!
But they are not tested at MOT time. Is it any wonder people get confused.

[ermie571]

Mike,

thanks for the clarification - never heard of those regulations before.....

must have been on a different planet!!

Em
x

[bigherb]

The amber ones are present, and work as standard (tested) and the reflectors are present
x

Now I'm confused are they not all red then?

[ermie571]

Sorry Big herb,
they were advertised on the club as "red" back lights. I did ask if the indicators were still amber, and they are. The only lens that isn't.
However, without the bright white reverse lens next to them, the indicators look a little darker, but still flash amber.

Can do a photo if you want

Em
x

[T-3PO]

Finally, I got the units complete - lens and back. But when I took mine off, the pins had a different arrangment. There is a maximum of 6 pins on the pug that plugs into the light back. The one on the drivers side that I took off had all 6 pins....but the passenger side had side had 5. The ones that came with the lens had different again. All have different codes on the back of the bulb holder part - ending in E, F and H!!!!

So, as the new lenses fitted the old holders, I re-used the ones that were on there.
Did different vans have different lighting systems??

.... 6th pin on the drivers side is for the fog light, as the fog light on the passenger side isn't used there's only 5 pins ... someday I WILL rewire them to have two fog lights ... just because I can

[Simon Baxter]

Red back lights (with the reverse omitted) are known as "Postie" lights as they were fitted to German Post Offive vans, the orange RHD ones.
They were also randomly fitted to Irish imports, dunno why?

[ermie571]

oooh post office vans!!

thanks Si!!

6 pins....
indicator,
brake
light
reverse
fog...

that's only five...how do you get to 6 when the 6 space is a reflector?????

On the other side, there is
indicator
brake
lights
reverse

Em
x

[T-3PO]

.... and the sixth (or fifth depending on how you look at it ) is for the Negative wire ... pull the rubber back and it's that dirty great brown one.