Both Reverse Lights not working :(

Hi, take off the gear stick gaiter and disconect the switch. Short out the contacts ( ignition on) with a short piece of wire - if the lights come on you need a new switch - about £5 from MB dealer - if not check fuses - if fuse ok then has to be wire between fuse in switch.
Good luck

Hi Joe, sorry for the assumption, pull up the leather bit below the gearstick, inside you will see that if you engage reverse the lever pushes a pin on a switch , bottom right. there are two wires to a plug on the side of this switch - pull out the plug and short out the terminals - your reverse lights will probably illuminate (with ignition on) and if so you will need a new switch.

Just a thought Joe, but before you disconect the plug from the switch try pushing in the pin by hand - if the bushes on your gear linkage are worn the gear stick will feel sloppy and might not push in the pin enough when you engage reverse.

Sorry Joe, missled you - had assumed you had a manual. It's a long time since I had an auto but I think the reverse switch is on the side of the gearbox by the selector lever. Someone may know better.

Hi somebody has been "having a go" because the blue and red inline connectors are not an MB instal. check the wiring diagram for the 280 auto in the owners handbook.....I see a single wire running from the side of the Gearbox that goes to ground when reverse is selected....

Don't worry about the lack of experience Joe, you'll get lots with a g wagen :lol:

I'm affraid I don't know enough about the autos but there could be a wire for the kick down to hold in first - sounds like you need to see a wiring diagram - there's one in the handbook if you have that.

The wire to the reverse switch is permanent (ignition on) live - the switch makes the circuit - is it possible you used this live to light the selector - is it on permanently?

on this vehicle, with an autobox the reversing light switch is integrated into a thing called the inhibitor switch.it is on the side of the gearbox underneath the arm that is moved to select the gear.it stops you starting the engine unless you are in park or neutral and also powers the reversing lights.it is under the car on the left hand side of the gearbox.
if you have changed the bulbs and fuses with no result get a small electrical meter, and test the fused side of the fuse with the ignition on to make sure that it is live.if so then take off the rear lens the connection in the bulb holder, if this is live you put in a duff bulb!!!if it has no output the trace back, ie get into the connection plug and test the input to the switch and the output.to test the output it might be worth taking a flying lead from the battery pos to the output conection, this should light the bulb.
all you have to do is trace back one stage at a time to find where the fault lies.
but it is attached to the side of the box, not inside the car.

yep it can be replaced, you probably have to remove the arm that the selector rod goes to to get it off and then unbolt it, in which case mark it so that you put it back 100% in the same place (the arm that is) or you wont be happy with yourself !!!!!
but to try it you should be able to just pull the plug off of the one on the car and plug it onto the replacement.then all you would have to do is put a screwdriver etc thru the middle and see if it works.dont forget, it will only work with ignition live, but dont turn the key to turn the starter coz if its in gear it will jump around a bit!!!!!!
let us know how you get on.