Reverse light problem

[Todd Black 88]

Does anyone have a picture of what inside the manual tranny trips the reverse light switch?

My reverse lights don't work, but everything checks out ok.

Switch works and is new.

Tranny loom to switch works and is new.

If I hook the switch up to the loom outside the tranny and push the switch, the lights work fine, but if I install it in the tranny it doesn't.

Is there a switch available with a longer pin?

Anyone have/had this issue?

[Todd Black 88]

Here is an internal pic shot from the left/drivers side I believe.
Internet pic

http://www.pbase.com/victorhall/trans_rebuild&page=4

[SmokeE30]

i can take a cell phone pic of the trans in my garage but that as best i can do, ill check it out and report back

[SmokeE30]

phone is not good enough to see inside but all you can see is a cylindrical shaft with what appear to be a very very shallow detent wher the switch sits. also the clapsible part of my switch protrudes 7.5mm at full extenstion if that helps

[Todd Black 88]

that does help thanks.

if you can get a pic, i would really appreciate it.
mine is a g265, but i am sure they are all activated the same way.

[SmokeE30]

this is a g260 but sorry my phone's 3.0 mega pixle camera just cant manage to get a good picture inside if u want any measurment i can help but not pictures sorry

[Todd Black 88]

http://www.pbase.com/victorhall/image/40232008

Which shaft in this picture looks like the one for the switch?

[SmokeE30]

if i had to guess i'd say 3rd one from the left in that picture looks like it lines up with where the sensor hole is

[Todd Black 88]

This is a cut and paste from s14.net where another guy had athe same issue and extended the switch pin with a screw.

So, I tried this little trick, and here is my story.

I did like the op and drilled the little hole in the end. No problem. Tapped a couple threads, no problem. Didn't like how few threads were engaged, so went to tap a bit deeper........snap. Broke th tap in the tip. Sonuva................ Tried to get the tap out. No dice. Threw it next to my original failed switch, and noticed, the pin on my old one, that worked before leaking, stuck out of the body about 3/16" farther then the new switch. WTF!!

I figured since both switches do not work now, I was going to see what the deal was with the difference.

I managed to pull them apart without much fuss, and found the body of the old switch was machined down much farther then the new one, allowing the pin to protrude the extra length, and the spring was longer.

I took the newer switch, drilled the inside much farther to allow the pin to stick out farther, took the longer spring and stretched it some more to make a positive contact at the seal plate, and reassembled it. I then recrimped the aluminum cap that holds the terminal plate down as best I could, and epoxied the switch terminal plate. I let it harden and voila, reverse lights!

I don't know what's up with the switch I got from BMW, but it was much shorter then the one I pulled out.

[Sindako]

Had That Problem Long Time ago ,
Some people think that the E36/E34 switch can Be Used on E30's ( The M20 Gear Box)
The Switch For The E30 Is 1 mm Longer and Really that 1 mm makes the Light Work fine .

Check you're Switch and make sure you have the right one for the right box ,

E30 :

http://fautoparts.com/design/imagini/parts-Switch-reverse-light-BMW-3-E30-316-STANDARD---13-1120485-auto-parts.jpg

E36/E34

http://images.esellerpro.com/2669/I/309/974/309974_1.JPG

[Todd Black 88]

It's an e30 switch, there is no mistaking them for each other. E36 switch has a different plug end.

[Sindako]

It's an e30 switch, there is no mistaking them for each other. E36 switch has a different plug end.

I Know The E36 have a different Plug , but here most people just cut out the cable and install e36 plug . which doesn't work properly on the E30 .