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MG MG Y Type - reversing light

On Y 5103 the reversing light only illuminates when the sidelamps are on and the gear stick is in reverse. Is this correct ?. I understood that the reverse light would illuminate at any time when reverse was selected, and the ignition was on. Have I got my wires crossed?
( Pun not intended) Any comments?

Mel Fry
Y5103
Melbourne
M.H. Fry

Hi Mel

Do you have One Stop light, two Tail Lights and One Reversing light in your D lamps per the original or do you have Two Stop and Two Tail lights with a supplementary light?

If you set up is the former - per the original factory build then the answer according to the wire loom is yes as tracing back from the lights at the back of the car you should have:

Stop Lamps
Purple going to the Stop Lamp(s)and that would be only having current on it when the ignition is on. This wire goes back to your stop lamp switch on the brake system and becomes Purple and Black thereafter going up to the Control Box on Terminal A4.

Tail Lamps
Red Wire to both Tail Lamps. This goes back to the junction box then up to the Lighting switch on the dash and should be "hot" only when the side lights are lit irrespective of ignition status.

Stop and Tail lamps have a common ground at the D Lamps.

Reversing Lamp
This is a Red and Yellow wire going to the Reverse Lamp Switch after which it is a Red wire which goes back to the same point on the Junction Box as the Tail Lights and is thereafter controlled on the same circuit.

Crazy ... but that is the original set up!

If you want it to be independent of the lights then you need to figure out which Red wire at the junction box is for the Tail lights and which is for the Reverse light coming back from the Reverse Lamp switch on the gear box and then leave the Tail light lead on the terminal with all the other Red wires and take the RED feed to the Reverse Lamp Switch ONLY and extend it up to the A3 terminal on the Control Box which I believe should be the Ignition Circuit.

Can someone please confirm or deny this reading of the wire diagram for Mel and me?

Thanks

Paul


Paul Barrow

Mel

In the 1950's reversing lights on all cars were only illuminated in the dark i.e. when the car had other lights on. It was a method of seeing where you were going, rather than warning others you were reversing.

The current use of reversing lights to highlight the fact that the driver has selected reverse gear, is a much later introduction.

The wiring on your Y is correct but if you want to modify it to operate in all conditions then you will need to take a live feed from a source other than the lighting circuit.

Regards.

David
David Pelham

Thanks David - that's about what I thought.

I think a live feed will be Terminal A3 on the Control Box and that connected direct to the wire that goes to the reverse switch should do it!

Good luck Mel

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks Paul & David, I think I will leave the wiring as is. Regards Mel
M.H. Fry

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2010 and 02/03/2010

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