MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Reversing Light

The 1961 Coupe I bought in the summer has a reversing light although it is not working. The bulb is fine. No sign of any current to the fitting when reverse is engaged. The car has the standard/original gear box. I assume this was an after market addition and I'm looking for a steer as to how it might have been set up. Would it have been a switch on the gearbox that engages when reverse is selected in which case the switch might have failed? Is it possible that it is a manual switch on the dashboard (the spare F knob?) - although it doesn't seem to be this. I've searched the archives but not a lot on this subject. Anyone able to enlighten me please? Tim
TJ Prime

Hi Tim
There is something on Barney's site at http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/gearbox/gt208.htm

The F knob was intended for a fog light, but in my experience, many people use it for other things (bilge pump in my case), so if it is wired up, that may be somewhere to start looking.
Good luck, Graham
Graham V

I suppose the obvious thing to do would be to trace the wiring.
Dave O'Neill 2

The MGA gearbox does not have a switch for reverse gear (or any switch at all). Look for a switch on the dash. The only unused original switch would be the "F" switch which various people use for various applications. Otherwise look for some additional switch on or under the dash. Assuming the back up lamp has wires to it, try following the (added) wires, presumably back to the cockpit where they may be connected to a switch somewhere.
Barney Gaylord

Thanks all. Some good old crawling about needed under the car, under the carpets and under the dash! All part of the fun!
TJ Prime

Hi,


To be strictly UK legal any reverse lamp operated by a manual driver controlled switch should have a warning light to alert the driver.


Any evidence of such a switch?
Steve Smith Midget 1500

Thanks Steve. I've still to fully check matters out but there is no warning light. I believe a working reversing light is not part of the MOT test so it seems weird that any reverse lamp operated by a manual driver controlled switch without a warning light should be illegal? I can easily imagine however being pulled over by the police if a reverse light is permanently on! May be best to simply forget trying to sort out the light or indeed to remove it!
TJ Prime

Tim.

Don't forget, the light might never have worked.

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

Indeed - quite possible! I'll see if I can contact the previous own
er to see if he can shed some light on it.
TJ Prime

I fitted a working Lucas reversing reversing light with my Type 9 and purely for symmetry fitted the identical Lucas rear fog light but never wired it in - so anything is possible!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I have had a switch on the original transmission. I used the "F" knob and used a head light switch to control each fog light separately. One is clear and one is amber. I did have a dash lamp to tell me when it was on. I now have the T-9 and it has a switch on the transmission to control the back up light.
JEFF BECKER

This thread was discussed between 23/11/2016 and 03/12/2016

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.