No Back-up Lights

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Have a 2002 Carrera 911 Coupe Automatic and am having troubles with my back-up lights not working along with my back-up video camera not coming on when the car is put into reverse. Checked fuses and lamps and they are OK and there are NO alarm messages. After reading through the Bentley Manual they advised that it "may be" a problem with the "Gear position switch" (neutral safety switch) located on the transmission. I also looked through the schematics and it appears that the Tiptronic Control Module takes the signal from the "Gear position switch" and outputs a "back-up light" signal.  I have the schematic of the Tiptronic circuitry (Bentley Manual) but it does not reflect the "pin-outs" on the two connectors that are on the module so I can do some trouble shooting. I would like to isolate the problem down to either the "Gear position switch" Tiptronic Module or a wiring issue.  If anyone has the pin outs of the Tiptronic module please forward them to me, along with any advise that you may have in rectifying this problem.

 

Thanks.....Larry

[318touring]

It's potentially this switch:

Happened to me, reverse sensor worked on and off along with the reversing lights, took the whole console out, opened the switch, bend the copper arms, put it all back together.

[Larry 2002/911/996]

46 minutes ago, 318touring said:

It's potentially this switch:

Happened to me, reverse sensor worked on and off along with the reversing lights, took the whole console out, opened the switch, bend the copper arms, put it all back together.

 

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Thanks much for the fast reply.....no where in the Bentley Manual do they ever mention the MFS switch, only the gear selector on the side of the transmission and when they do discuss it, it is vague and ambiguous at best! Now things are making more sense. It is not even shown in the schematics.  Thanks much for the help!!

 

Larry

[318touring]

@Larry 2002/911/996  don't worry about it.  This is apparently a common issue but not common enough for Bentley to mention it.

 

I was hoping it would be a connector somewhere in the gearbox housing but no, I had to deal with lots of screws including one that was holding the coin holder (do you know that the car has a coin holder inside the center console?)

Edited August 12, 2016 by 318touring

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Yeah, when I first bought the car I ripped the center console out and repainted it along with putting a new shift knob and head unit. Wish I would have known then that the MFS was under the shift lever. During the refurbishment of the center console area I ditched the coin holder, and took out the ash tray and replaced it with just a small storage area unit that I got from Coastal Porsche. I may have some additional questions for you as I get into the thick of things.......more to come.

[318touring]

This is the 'hack' in MFS that you'll need to do:

 

Reverse light switch on tiptronic trans? - Rennlist Discussion Forums  

 

At least you had removed the center console, the second time would be easier and faster (usually).

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Thanks for the additional info.....will start working on it tomorrow! As you said the second time should be easier....now I can go in and put back all the parts that I forgot to put in the first time, ha, ha, ha

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Job complete! Problem was in the "back-up switch". All I had to do was first get to it,  remove it, clean the terminals and put it all back together again. Thanks again for all the help!!

Larry

[318touring]

Success!!  Now you reverse in confidence all weekend long.

 

I didn't realise that the whole reversing system was shot until I almost crash onto a wall when reversing.  I have reversing sensors and have always been depending on it to tell me how much space I've got left.

[judgejon]

this stuff is actually a little bit funny, as it reminds me of an issue with the 911sc heater fan switches.

The heat came on, via the heat exchangers on the exhaust manifold, by pulling up either of 2 levers located between the seats.

There was a fan connected to the heater control levers.  

If you pulled up either lever a tab on the level connected with a somewhat long slender copper arm that got pushed onto another little piece of copper.  Then, viola, the heater fan would turn on and increase the flow of the warm air.  

This was useful only at low speeds because at higher speeds there was plenty of air without the fan.  

If the fan didn't come on, you could bend the copper back into a good placement.

The solution was to disconnect the copper arms and wire up a little switch to turn on the fan when needed.

Seems this little bit of 911sc low tech was passed on to the 996 reverse light switch.  Very, very Porsche don't you think? 

[Larry 2002/911/996]

Hi.....yes your right....the most frustrating issue is trying to find the right info for the year car that you have. Even the 5 pound Bentley Manual doesn't have all the correct info and often times leads you in the wrong direction of the problem. Thank goodness for the internet and sites like RennTech! I would still be spinning my wheels on trying to correct such a simple problem if it weren't for the resposes that I have received from other "enthusiasts"........Larry