Reverse light switch?

[ib83coupe]

Hi all,

Im trying to get a 84 coupe back on the road. It has no reverse lights at the moment. All other lights on car are working fine except both reverse lights.
Checked globes and power to wiring in rear - getting no power.

Where is the reverse light switch on the gearbox? I will have to start checking power there.

thanks.

[Pope1]

I suspect switch problems are common because I had that and when I went to swap it with my spare, that didn't work either. Managed to get the original working again after some careful cleaning and using Araldite to hold the wires coming out of the top in one place.

To get to it, you'll need to take the battery out. You'll find it coming out of the top of the gearbox underneath where the battery is. It's in the vicinity of the triangular metal bracket that the clutch cable goes through.

[Hamish]

...... and it's a complete bar steward to get out :evil: copious quantities of WD40 - or similar - recommended.

[idanl]

I suspect switch problems are common because I had that and when I went to swap it with my spare, that didn't work either. Managed to get the original working again after some careful cleaning and using Araldite to hold the wires coming out of the top in one place.
To get to it, you'll need to take the battery out. You'll find it coming out of the top of the gearbox underneath where the battery is. It's in the vicinity of the triangular metal bracket that the clutch cable goes through.
why work so hard to overhaul a switch?
it's a really cheap piece and it is not unique to the beta. in my 83 1.6 coupe a fiat ducato reverse light switch fitted perfectly. i just took off the faulty one and went to a parts store with it and went through their drawers untill i found an exact match.
the same works for many such parts. when i specifically ask for parts for a beta i usually get a negative response, but coming with the part in my hand and comparing it to the stock usually gets me what i need.
BTW, the reverse unit has cost me something like 3GBP in my local currency.

[Pope1]

Took me all of about 15 minutes to sort out the problem and a couple of hours for the glue to set.

I have the only Lancia in the country and Fiats are very few and far between here too, mostly a handful of Puntos with a couple of 131/132 models knocking around somewhere. There is no Fiat representation here either. I don't even bother to look for Lancia/Fiat parts locally any more because it was just such a waste of time in the past. I've tried your approach of trying to match parts and all it does is get me annoyed at the uncooperative and ridiculous responses I get at times.

[ib83coupe]

I think my issue may be fuse related as there is no power getting to the switch.

I recently changed all the fuses to eliminate some elec gremlins.

Does anyone know which fuse in which fusebox runs the reverse lights.
Ive got a Haynes but not the supplement available for the late model cars.

It has a second fuse box near the battery.

thanks,
Ian.

[SubGothius]

Does anyone know which fuse in which fusebox runs the reverse lights.
Ive got a Haynes but not the supplement available for the late model cars.That would be in the long relay/fusebox mounted along the firewall, a 16-amp fuse at #11 (6th one in, counting from the centreline of the car), at least according to the 1979 coupe UK owner's manual repro that came with my '79 Zagato.

If this fuse is blown, then you would also be missing power to the solenoids that activate your radiator fan (mine blew this fuse and I didn't realize it until my car started running hot -- not a good thing during a Tucson summer!), power windows, horns, rear window heater, and possibly your clock, instrument cluster and cigaret lighter as well. The chart's a bit tricky to read, as they've got fuses for the circuits that power accessories directly, plus fuses on the circuits that power the solenoids that switch power to those accessories! Ah, the joys of Italian electrics... :roll:

[Pope1]

Totally off-topic, welcome to the forum Tye. Glad to see you've found your way here.

[SubGothius]

Thx for the warm welcome, Pope Chris VX 8) , actually been lurking here for a while but finally found something to pipe up about and time to follow through with a post... :D