Reverse Lights not working MK1 Yaris

[PiMonkey]

Hello
Ive been having a little trouble with my car, The reverse lights did not work when I bought it and the bulbs have been changed and still do not work, Ive had the reverse light switch on the transmission replaced but that has not made a differance, Im not sure if its a wiring issue or something wrong with the transmission is there anyway I can test the wiring itself short the lights to 12v at the front of the car and see if they turn on kind of thing?
Im not awere of a fuse for the reverse lights as I cannot find them I think I read on another forum they are in with the tail light fuse which Ive checked is fine.
Car details
MK1 Toyota yaris SR
2003

Any help or thoughts would be much appreciated

Kind Regards
Joshua Haley

[Max_Headroom]

3 minutes ago, PiMonkey said:

The reverse lights did not work when I bought it and the bulbs have been changed and still do not work,

I cannot answer your question but have one of my own -

Why did you buy a car that was not road legal?

 

 

[flash22]

silly question, have you checked the Back up fuse, a bulb blowing can easily pop the fuse

[flash22]

1 minute ago, Max_Headroom said:

I cannot answer your question but have one of my own -

Why did you buy a car that was not road legal?

 

 

Private sale - it wasn't disclosed or wasn't checked, yes it's now an MOT fail - not the end of the world - seen worse on the road

[PiMonkey]

26 minutes ago, flash22 said:

Private sale - it wasn't disclosed or wasn't checked, yes it's now an MOT fail - not the end of the world - seen worse on the road

Bought it off a family member, but regardless of that its not a legal requirement to have reverse lights and is not even an MOT check. the car has also just passed its MOT so its all road legal 🙂

[PiMonkey]

31 minutes ago, flash22 said:

silly question, have you checked the Back up fuse, a bulb blowing can easily pop the fuse

Thanks, I havent checked this where would it be?

[flash22]

https://fuse-box.info/toyota/toyota-yaris-echo-vitz-xp10-1999-2005-fuses-and-relay

it under the 10 amp gauge fuse

check that you have 12v at the reverse switch - use the body or a bolt as ground for testing

[flash22]

20 minutes ago, PiMonkey said:

Bought it off a family member, but regardless of that its not a legal requirement to have reverse lights and is not even an MOT check. the car has also just passed its MOT so its all road legal 🙂

It's a testable item now as of 2018, BUT only affects cars registered after 01/09/2009

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mot-changes-20-may-2018

• if tyres are obviously underinflated
• if the brake fluid has been contaminated
• for fluid leaks posing an environmental risk
• brake pad warning lights and if brake pads or discs are missing
• reversing lights on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009
• headlight washers on vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 (if they have them)
• daytime running lights on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018 (most of these vehicles will have their first MOT in 2021 when they’re 3 years old)

[PiMonkey]

20 minutes ago, flash22 said:

https://fuse-box.info/toyota/toyota-yaris-echo-vitz-xp10-1999-2005-fuses-and-relay

it under the 10 amp gauge fuse

check that you have 12v at the reverse switch - use the body or a bolt as ground for testing

Cheers, I will check that tomorrow but all the other functions of that fuse work like the windows and indicator, I would check the reverse light switch but I cant find it, thought it was under the Battery on the transmission but its not there, any idea where it is on a mk1?

[Derek.w]

I first check for corrosion in the bulb socket and the attached wiring.

Make your own wire up going from bulb case to a good earth point then with gear in reverse clutch disengaged  and engine on and running have a friend check the light.

[PiMonkey]

9 hours ago, Derek.w said:

I first check for corrosion in the bulb socket and the attached wiring.

Make your own wire up going from bulb case to a good earth point then with gear in reverse clutch disengaged  and engine on and running have a friend check the light.

in the bulb socket holder for the reverse light there are two exposed terminals are both of these or just one ground? and I guess i just need to find somewhere on the body to short it too?

[Sooty]

A reverse light bulb will NOT have 2 contacts. It will probably be a 21W single element bulb just like the indicator bulb.

If the holder has 2 contacts, then it is most likely the tail / brake light bulb holder.

[Parts-King]

Early Yaris bulb holders were prone to corrosion, check the terminal in the bulb holder

[flash22]

The Reverse light switch is on the front of the gearbox, It's either a black or grey plug

When testing for voltage, always use a body ground (Bare metal or a bolt)

[Derek.w]

Twin pins bulbs are as Sooty sugest its tail brake bulb reverse bulb is single contact and ground.

[PiMonkey]

Cheers to everyone for the suggestions and infomation, when I said about contacts I meant the bulb holder not the bulb itself. But it turns out it was just some corrosion somewhere because after removing the connector and checking voltages and removing and reinstalling the bulb in its holder it now all works.

Thanks for the help its much appreciated 🙂

[Derek.w]

Glad you fixed it at no cost.

[flash22]

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