Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded

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Thu 6 Nov 2008 14:30
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - Rattle
I have been trying to fix my reverse light switch today but I can't find it. My dads has two wires going into a plug (the reverse light switch) , mine has four wires going into a plug and its in a different place. Both have the same engine 1.3 Endura and are both 1996 builds, I am confused.

i167.photobucket.com/albums/u141/amazingtrade/reve...g

You can see a plug with a connector on the right hand side, there is four wires going into it, the only other connector I can see is to the left and is missing of the picture although you can see the wire, my dads also has this and I believe this is for the ECU?

What is going on?
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Thu 6 Nov 2008 22:17
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
Rattle

You'll get a much better picture if you crawl onto your stomach and take a picture from under the bumper.

Having said that, can I just clarify:

- Your dads car has a two cable connector only going into the front of the gearbox for the reversing switch?
- Your car has the wire your dads car has, in the same place, plus a 4-wire connector to the right of this?

Can you confirm the two connectors you have:

- both you and your dad have a connector going into a single large hex bolt with two wires coming out of it.
- only you have a four wire connector going to a square connector secured to the gearbox by two set screws (might be marked 96WT 15520 BB).

I still believe that the one you need to replace is the one with the single large square hex head which both you and your dad have (2-wire). Easiest way to tell is to take the plug off and short it out with a bit of wire.

Edited by mfarrow on 06/11/2008 at 22:20

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Thu 6 Nov 2008 22:29
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
Just looking at your post again. When you say "the wire to the left"...

if you mean to the top left of the picture then disregard what I said above and the connector on the bottom right with the two set screws is the one you replace.

if you mean the cable with the red tape on it then my previous post still stands.
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Thu 6 Nov 2008 22:45
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - Rattle
The one with the red tape, this has four wires going into it, my dads dosn't have that connector but in a different place he has one with 2 wires going into which is clearly the reverse light switch.

The wire is rather thick you can see it on the left of the picture, is connected almost inbetween the engine and the gearbox.

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Thu 6 Nov 2008 23:04
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
Right I see it now, the cable with the red tape is looping back on itself and going to the 4-wire plug, I didn't spot that before.
in a different place he has one with 2 wires
going into which is clearly the reverse light switch.


And do you have the connector your dad has or not?
The wire is rather thick you can see it on the left of the picture
is connected almost inbetween the engine and the gearbox.


Ignore that one, it's purely to sense road speed.

Edited by mfarrow on 06/11/2008 at 23:05

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Thu 6 Nov 2008 23:12
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - Rattle
Yep both cars have the identical road speed sensor, both have the hydraulic clutch pipe going into the same place, but lower down both cars have a plug in a different place, mine has four wires my dads has two. My dads clearly looks like a reverse switch, mine looks completly different with four wires into it. It is also a lot lower down.

I am completly confused of how two identical cars can have different wiring? My dads is a Ghia 5 door mine is an Encore 3 door, mine is Jan (On N plate) 2006 VIN my dads VIN is March 06 (on R plate)
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Fri 7 Nov 2008 09:01
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
The 4-wire connection, which should be held to the gearbox by two set screws, is your reversing switch.
I am completly confused of how two identical cars can have different wiring? My dads
is a Ghia 5 door mine is an Encore 3 door mine is Jan (On
N plate) 2006 VIN my dads VIN is March 06 (on R plate)


Both the big round bolt type and the other type are listed for the Fiesta for all years, with blanking plugs available depending on which is yours.

So it's a mystery why the different switches are listed for seemingly identical models.
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Fri 7 Nov 2008 11:24
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - Rattle
Thanks so much for that :). So I basically disconnect the multiplug from the connector then I should see two screws holding it on. If its four wires what do I need to short to test the switch?

This is something I need to fix myself, if can't fix a reverse light I will never do the three spanner job of fixing my door lock.
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Fri 7 Nov 2008 12:46
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
then I should see two screws holding it on. If its four wires what do
I need to short to test the switch?


You should see two screws anyway, one either side.

I'll have a look later to see what I can find with regards cable colours, but the quickest way you'd find out is to buy a Haynes manual.
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Fri 7 Nov 2008 13:05
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - Rattle
Thank.

Haynes suggest it should be two wires but I am using a mix at the moment, An Escort 95-99 with the Endura engine and the Fiesta mk3 manual. I need to get the MK4 one they just don't go into enough detail. I have one for a Lada Riva and that gives you pics of everything modern ones are too vague.

Edited by Rattle on 07/11/2008 at 13:05

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Fri 7 Nov 2008 13:13
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
Even so the wiring schematic should be clear enough.

I agree that the content has been diluted significantly, and the diagrams are a lot smaller, but you should have enough information in there for what you need to do this job.
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Fri 7 Nov 2008 18:37
1996 1.3 Where is my reverse switch - pic inlcuded - mfarrow
Right, you should have:

a BROWN wire with a GREEN stripe
a BROWN wire with a GREEN stripe
a BLUE wire with an ORANGE stripe *
a BLUE wire with a YELLOW stripe *

* short these two together to turn your reversing lights on.
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