Reverse lights MOT

Baldytyke88

At my workplace, we have a number of new Merc Sprinters and I noticed that the 2 of them that I have seen have non working reverse lights within the cluster, but 2 working in the bumper.

They have extra lights fitted on the roof, brake lights etc. so quite a number of lights.

I have been told that these reverse lights are not legally required to work, but I thought the rules were that if wipers/lights are fitted, they must be working?

Nearlyold

There is probably no bulb, no bulb holder and no wiring.  Our Kangoo has what look like matching reversing light clusters left rear and right rear but only the right hand one has a bulb holder. 

Grey_Critic

A lot of vehicles used to have two reverse and two rear fog lights as standard. They then reduced the to one when the regulations were changed. Problem is that varies country to country so the use a standard light cluster and just do not wire up the second. Silly really as they fit lights super bright at the front and ignore the rear which, if you think about it is silly. When reversing you need light. I have two on mine and find them handy.

EssexExile

Grey_Critic said:

A lot of vehicles used to have two reverse and two rear fog lights as standard. They then reduced the to one when the regulations were changed. Problem is that varies country to country so the use a standard light cluster and just do not wire up the second. Silly really as they fit lights super bright at the front and ignore the rear which, if you think about it is silly. When reversing you need light. I have two on mine and find them handy.

The official line from Volvo, when told their reversing lights are too dim, is that their function is to tell people you are reversing, not to light the way!

Mildly_Miffed

Baldytyke88 said:

...but I thought the rules were that if wipers/lights are fitted, they must be working?

Urban myth.

Reversing lights are testable on 2009-and-later stuff, not testable on earlier.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-6

Their precise position is flexible. Bumper-mount is perfectly acceptable, they do not have to be in the light clusters. Many cars (including mine) have them separate from the main cluster.

facade

Mildly_Miffed said:

Baldytyke88 said:

...but I thought the rules were that if wipers/lights are fitted, they must be working?

Urban myth.

Reversing lights are testable on 2009-and-later stuff, not testable on earlier.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-6

Their precise position is flexible. Bumper-mount is perfectly acceptable, they do not have to be in the light clusters. Many cars (including mine) have them separate from the main cluster.

I'm not a tester- I'll ask when I next see one, but 4.6.1 clearly says that post Sept 2009 all reverse lamps must be tested, and if any don't work it is a major.

Are they claiming that they aren't actually reverse lamps, just blank lenses with no bulb holder?

Grumpy_chap

facade said:

Are they claiming that they aren't actually reverse lamps, just blank lenses with no bulb holder?

I *think* that some clusters include reflectors in certain positions ?

Baldytyke88

Mildly_Miffed said:

Reversing lights are testable on 2009-and-later stuff, not testable on earlier.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-6

Their precise position is flexible. Bumper-mount is perfectly acceptable, they do not have to be in the light clusters. Many cars (including mine) have them separate from the main cluster.

"Buses over 6m long may have 4 reversing lamps" my Merc minibus is a LWB and over 6 meters long.

Grey_Critic

Might be worth checking if there is a removable blank and wiring. At one time they used a standard harness and just did not fit the lampholder.

facade

Grumpy_chap said:

facade said:

Are they claiming that they aren't actually reverse lamps, just blank lenses with no bulb holder?

I *think* that some clusters include reflectors in certain positions ?

You can't have white reflectors on the rear (RVLR 1989 Part 2 Section 11, MOT handbook 4.8.2)

shera12

Good spot, I wondered about that too. From what I understand, reverse lights aren’t actually legally required on all vehicles, but if extra lights are fitted, they usually should work. Might just be how these Sprinters are set up or wired because of the additional lighting. Probably worth a quick check with the fleet or maintenance team just to be safe