Reverse switch

[dmorales-bello]

My reverse lights have been malfunctioning intermittently: when I put the car in reverse sometimes they light up and most times they don't.

I searched this forum and found nothing specific. I will go under the car and check/clean the connectors to the switch but if the problem persists I will have to source a new switch.

I've seen $10 switches from Black Dragon, $38 from MSA, $45 from Z Connexion (apparently Nissan OEM) to $70 ones from another site.

Any experience from the forum members with any of these? Are they all basically the same units or is there a true reliability difference among them?

Thanks all.

[sweatybetty]

95% of all electrical problems are related to a bad ground or corroded connections

[Namerow]

IIRC, the Reverse Switch is an 'interruptor' type and doesn't care about the quality of its local 'ground'.  The switch is normally 'open'.  When you engage Reverse, the switch contacts close so that power can flow through the switch and back to the main harness.  The switch has a rubber dustboot to protect the 'in' and 'out' terminals from water and crud.  On the units I've looked at, the boot had perished and the terminals were pretty dirty.  I'd look at that first.  The dustboot may be destined for the trash bin.  Clean up the contacts and the wire-end terminals, re-install, and then figure out some way to seals things off.  Alternatively, just buy a new switch (which may come with a brand-new rubber dustboot).  I don't think you're going to find much difference from one switch manufacturer to another, but I would suggest you pick a known brand just to be safe.

[dmorales-bello]

Thank you guys. Will get around to inspecting the connectors this weekend.

[zject]

OEM switch cant be beat, $36.99.  But I have had good luck with aftermarket also. 

 

https://zcardepot.com/electrical/switches-and-relays/reverse-back-up-light-switch-oem.html?search=reverse+switch

[dmorales-bello]

Finally got around to it yesterday and thankfully it was just a frayed cable on one of the female connectors. Simple cure was a clean connection to a new connector and the lights work great again!

Thanks for all the help to all.