Reversing lights from hell!!!!

[FROGM5]

Hi all,
I have been attempting to fix the reversing lights on my CLK W208 scince
I got it. I am fed up with trying to reverse using brake lights & having to loook at that bulb warning light all the time.
I am now at my wits end and totaly sick of it, I am seriously considering just wiring them direct to a big effin toggle switch on the dash and being done with it. So far I have: Checked bulbs & fuses, Checked wiring and connectors in boot. Removed and checked/cleaned (reverse switch in auto gear selector unit). Taken to auto electrician, fitted new auto selector unit (on sparks advice) and still no luck. Short of replacing the whole loom im well and truly stumped???
Does anyone know which wires coming out of the gear selector go to these insipid little ba****ds? if I can find out I will solder some wires straight from it and lead them back to the toadies in the boot.
Ive been through every thread I could find but have seen nothing I havent tryed already.
Any help would be greatly received!!!

 

[MicB]

Once you have got it/them fixed they are probably about as useful as a chocolate fireguard......in my experience it is often necessary to light the way with the aid of brake lights and/or hazard warning lights.

Mic

 

[FROGM5]

Yes...but it seems joe public cant comprehend Im going backwards without them as an indicator.
Ive had to get out of the car and tell the car behind im reversing more than once.

 

[Tinkerer]

Surely 'sparks' should be able to identify the colour of the wires which connect the selector to the reversing lights? it is after all a continuity test.

 

[davidsw]

I don't think the wires from the selector go straight to the reversing lights .Not like the old days of switch or switch and relay.Does one of the sam units play a part ?
I know my number plates lights were controled by the rear sam.Just a thought.

 

[bennesspipers]

Sounds to me as if you need a different Sparky, tracing which wires aint rocket science.

 

[FROGM5]

Nothing else effected just the cursed reverse lights.
I will be getting another auto electrician maybe with some Benz know how to take a look. After buying a new selector unit to no avail the last one is not on my christmas card list!

 

[Individual one]

Hi there, I had the same problem with my wife CLK, no reversing lights but also no brake lights,tried everything but no joy so off i went to an indi for a check over and it was the sams unit £600, hope its not the same for you,good luck.

 

[Dieselman]

Nothing else effected just the cursed reverse lights.
I will be getting another auto electrician maybe with some Benz know how to take a look. After buying a new selector unit to no avail the last one is not on my christmas card list!

The reverse light switch is a simple metal plate in the selector and a 2 pin connector on the rear of the unit.

Not exactly rocket science.

 

[FROGM5]

Have now wired directly from selector output & hey presto...reverse lights,auto mirror adjust & rear view camera to command screen.
Thanks for all the input everyone, must have been a broken wire somewhere along the loom.

 

[Upex]

Frog, which wires are the reverse output from the selector? I have same issue on an slk and don't know which wires to 'jump' in order to rule in or out the selector. May be different becasue different car, but better than nothing and I'm getting no where trying to find the answer.

 

[Dave Richardson]

Sounds like a big thanks to Dieselman to me

 

[Dieselman]

Frog, which wires are the reverse output from the selector? I have same issue on an slk and don't know which wires to 'jump' in order to rule in or out the selector. May be different becasue different car, but better than nothing and I'm getting no where trying to find the answer.

As said, it's the two pin connector on the rear of the selector unit.

I suspect the O/p's problem is a break int eh wire at the boot lid hinge.

 

[Upex]

Sorry for the delay diesel,

I know I've a different car, but I have 2 different connectors on the shift block unit thingy, one on the rear right with 3 wires (I think) and one on the left with 2 wires, I assume that it's the left one as you call out 2 pin?

My question is how do I test this? As I tried to bridge this 2 wire plug and got no reverse lights, so not sure if I did something wrong or if it's telling me that something else is at fault.

Thanks, Upex