No reverse light 2001/2 tip

[spudboy6]

Working on a 2001/2002 996 turbo just done the spark plugs and that was a pleasant game ,

Anyways the car now has no reverse lights , it has the MB tip box so I understand the the reverse light is controlled by the sensor on the bottom of the gear shifter ?

I'm looking for some guidance on stripping it out to get to this unit , I have got the small ashtray out and the torx screws under and the ones under the rubber Matt fit hut back , other than that I'm stuck !

Not my usual motor to work on , car belongs to a collection of royal family so would like to get it right as this 996 turbo has only done 815 miles on a 2001/2 not sure as its on diplomat plates !

[JFP in PA]

Working on a 2001/2002 996 turbo just done the spark plugs and that was a pleasant game ,Anyways the car now has no reverse lights , it has the MB tip box so I understand the the reverse light is controlled by the sensor on the bottom of the gear shifter ?I'm looking for some guidance on stripping it out to get to this unit , I have got the small ashtray out and the torx screws under and the ones under the rubber Matt fit hut back , other than that I'm stuck !Not my usual motor to work on , car belongs to a collection of royal family so would like to get it right as this 996 turbo has only done 815 miles on a 2001/2 not sure as its on diplomat plates !

The back light switch is part of the main switch sector on the side of the transmission.

[spudboy6]

Many thanks for the replie , I have had a look on the side of the box but I couldn't see anything like that pictured ,

Just to confirm its a TIP auto MB stamped box on a 996 TT unsure of age .

I couldn't see anything on the box and I had the most rearward tray off and still couldn't see anything , no possibility of it being on the gear selector then as I have read somewhere this is the case ?

[Loren]

[spudboy6]

No sure if it makes any difference its a British car right hand drive ,

[JFP in PA]

No sure if it makes any difference its a British car right hand drive ,

Should not make any difference.

[spudboy6]

I found this in another post saying that box above shown is a ZF box and the MB box has it on the hear selector under the centre consol , This may copy not sure if it will :

I think that the photos and diagrams are of the ZF tiptronic transmission used in the 98-01 cars. The 2002- cars use the MB transmission, and the multi-function switch is on the bottom of the gear selector lever. Edit: I found this in the 2002 SIT which might be useful to you:996_MF_S...ch_2002_.jpg

[spudboy6]

Also when I put it in reverse the red dot on the dash signals its in reverse so that works and car does reverse .

Have read about a relay under the back seat for park tronic / tiptronic .

So its either relay or reverse switch and that's about £900 on the shifter I think . Hopefully someone knows !

[Richard Hamilton]

The signal for the instrument cluster and reverse gear itself comes from the Tiptronic selector switch. The reversing light signal comes from the separeate switch on the bottom of the stick, as shown in the diagram I posted.

You can't buy the reversing light switch itself, but you can buy the multi-function switch (despite what it says), which includes the r/l switch. IIRC, they are about £100. You don't have to buy the complete selector mechanism.

I would start by removing the plug from the revering light switch on the bottom of the MFS, and bridging the wires to see if the lights come on.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Richard Hamilton

[spudboy6]

The signal for the instrument cluster and reverse gear itself comes from the Tiptronic selector switch. The reversing light signal comes from the separeate switch on the bottom of the stick, as shown in the diagram I posted. You can't buy the reversing light switch itself, but you can buy the multi-function switch, which includes the r/l switch. You don't have to buy the complete selector mechanism. I would start by removing the plug from the revering light switch on the bottom of the MFS, and bridging the wires to see if the lights come on.

Thanks for that , I'm stripping it out tomorrow any ideas on procedure ? At the front by your knees do the two side panels pop off ? I've got the ash tray torx and ones under the rubber Matt , I know how to remove the gear stick , Then I'm stuck Have to be extra Carefull with this car can't brake anything ! 815 miles and mark less

[Richard Hamilton]

This is a DIY for the B&M Short Shift Kit, which shows how the console comes out: http://bmracing.com/wp-bnmcont/uploads/45135.pdf

815 miles??? Has it been wrapped in mothballs? What a waste!

[spudboy6]

This is a DIY for the B&M Short Shift Kit, which shows how the console comes out: http://bmracing.com/wp-bnmcont/uploads/45135.pdf815 miles??? Has it been wrapped in mothballs? What a waste!

It's a lovely motor apart from the 80's bathroom green interior ! The owner has several cars , I'm working several at the moment Sl600 AMG Specialy made for him BMW 750i only done 2k mikes since 1999Toyota crown majesta v8 fully armoured bullet proof so I can't damage anything ! Or I will be banished as it belongs to royalty

[spudboy6]

Right console out now wanted to get on with it sooner but spent most of today fitting headlights in a DB9 ,

Has anyone got a wiring diagram for the MFS unit please ?

[spudboy6]

Anyone know which part of this is the reverse light switch ?

I have the new MFS unit (white bit ) but want to test the old one first by bridging out the connector first to confirm my thoughts , i think its the blue/black small 2pin plug at the bottom or is it the brown bit on the top ?

Edited February 22, 2013 by spudboy6

[Loren]

Backup light wires are Black/Blue stripe (to lights cluster) and Black/Orange stripe (to fuse B5) -- (on a MY2002).

[spudboy6]

many thnanks as i thought it was then , i wont be back with the car untill monday morning now, quick question is the new ounit has a metal pin through the middle of the new it by the part number (small hole in middle of part number ) , any ideas what its for and should i remove it on fitting ? can post photo in the next few days

[spudboy6]

any ideas on what the pin is for ?

[spudboy6]

right new unit fitted today and all solved and for all your guys help on here i will give something back and tell you how to fit the unit and diagnosis .

1. put car in neautral and remove earth on battery ,remove gear knob (silver button pops off , remove clip , slide knob off )
2. remove J-gate surround very tough clips use a trim tool start from the back BUT be carefull to note which way round the cover goes under this on the bottom of the stalk to cover the hole when shifting , other wise upon refit it will cause you pain not knowing how it fits wasting time working it out because it jams between TIP and Auto when switching between
3. remove ash tray and torx screws under and un-plug light
4. in cubby hole remove rubber matt , undo torx screw remove plastic panel and undo two torx screws under there
5. remove handbrake side trim pops off
6. remove trim (mine was carbon fibre panel ) just above where gear knob was under radio as such
7. remove other relevant screws
8. recline seats fully and remove centre console unit ,
9. on passengers side locate white MFS box and remove plugs (reverse light plug very hard to get out !)
10. bridge out plug to confirm your fault (after reconnecting battery

Now either replace the unit and OR open up unit and you will see the metal contacts will have come away from the copper strip and so just bend down to make contact again and test ,.

now fit the unit back this is why you left the car in neautral , the new switch has a locking pin inside it to keep it in neautral , fit new switch and plug in ,

reconnect battery and turn ignition on making sure the car has been left in neautral the whole time or it forgets where park is !

now rebuild your centre console 2-3 hours max .

that is my rough guide hope it helps someone else !

[eurgain]

Hi,

This is really helpful!

Can anyone tell me where to get the multi-function switch separately from the selector lever? Porsche does not seem to sell the switch separately, and I changing the whole lever looks like a much bigger job.

Thanks

A

[spudboy6]

The MFS unit that I have in the above pictures is very easy to remove , and this fixes the problem and is available from Porsche seperatley

If not when you remove it make sure your in neautral and disconnect the battery very important

Then open the unit clean the contacts and press them back on to the circuit board and it should fix it ,

I only replaced as its a customers car ,

[Erfüllt-911]

Thanks all. My 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera had this problem with reverse light not turning on and was able to fix it. Note that the connectors for the part did not look rusted. It looked very clean but I scraped it a bit and bent the connectors to bring them a bit closer and it worked. 

 

BTW, mine does not have that metal pin. There's just a hole there. 

Edited January 6 by Erfüllt-911