Mk 2 Reverse Switch

[south_bound]

I got a few jobs done around the car over the holidays, including replacement of the reverse switch which has been playing up, first intermitent and then completely stopped working and I was getting fed up of not seeing anything when reversing in the dark and reverse sensors not coming on. I put the multimeter on the old one which showed that the ball needs to be pushed in completely to register a short circuit and there was some resistance if not pushed in fully, so maybe getting worn out. The new one gave a short circuit even when not fully pushed in.

Euro Car Parts had three different ones come up on the search using my reg no but they narrowed it down to one in the shop so I took that one. You can see from the photo that the new one on the left has a shorter body and longer threded section so I was a bit unsure of fitting it.

The longer thread means that it fouls in the gearbox when selecting reverse gear and stops it going in. The solution was to unscrew a few turns until the gear can be selected without resistance on the gear stick which at frst I was unsure about in case it starts unthreading itself or does not seal properly and could start to leak. There is an o ring which I think is pushed into the threaded section to seal it, and it needed a wrench to turn it (wouldn't turn by hand) so tried that it so far there is no oil leaking from the gearbox or anything.

Anyone else come up against this, and if so did you do the same? My only other complaint is the lack of working space between the top of the gearbox and the underside of the battery compartment - my sockets were too short and an adjustable wrench handle was too long to allow it to turn so i ended up botching it a bit. Hopefully it will hold long enough to not give me any problems.

[troy45]

I'd have to say you need to get the correct switch - it should be just the same fitting as the one you've replaced, and be in the right position to work when fitted tight to the gearbox. If it's not tight there's no doubt that over time it will work itself looser and give you an oil leak.

In theory you could get a thin nut of the same thread and lock that against the gearbox, or make up a spacer to pack it out but that depends on having a garage full of spare parts and machining tools too.

For refitting the proper one it's not too big a job to get the battery box out, better to do that and give yourself as much room as possible.

[artscot79]

Ide replace with the correct one to be honest and not leave it like that with the airbox out there's plenty of room in there a good tool kits always a must with extender bars etc

[south_bound]

Are you saying that ECP sold me the wrong one? They did say I could take it back if it doesn't fit but thats just hassle, and would I be certain of getting the right one somewhere else, even direct from Ford? I'll keep an eye on the one thats in there now and see if it comes loose or leaks oil, at least until I get time to get back in there.

[troy45]

Are you saying that ECP sold me the wrong one? They did say I could take it back if it doesn't fit but thats just hassle, and would I be certain of getting the right one somewhere else, even direct from Ford? I'll keep an eye on the one thats in there now and see if it comes loose or leaks oil, at least until I get time to get back in there.

Yep they've sold you the wrong part - they had 1 in 3 chance of getting it right it sounds. Now you've got a photo of your old switch that should help the dealer parts man sort out which one it is. Or if you've got the finis numbers just google it and see which one is the one for your car.