reverse lights question

yeh I would have thought that it wouldn't have passed compliance without reverse lights, aren't they mandatory? any way , if I put car in reverse with motor off and using a circuit tester, would that be a logical way to find the correct wire/wires?

Sounds like they changed the original tail lights for the LED ones. The White LEDs are more expensive, so maybe he was a tight-arse, and didn't buy the required lamps.

Yeah, test it like you said, but think you'll need ignition on to get a circuit, while in reverse.

Bob

Athol, good to know you're still around with your seemingly endless fund of knowledge on vehicle engineering and standards. You ARE missed on that interminable piss-fight called aus.cars ...

Yeh the legal requirement for reversing lights has been arround for some time.
From My reading, the specifoications have been relaxed a little recently.
In the past you where allowed 20 watts total of incandesant lamps.

If you go to the ADRs ther is now a light intensity and pattern specified.

It works out that you can run some low power work lght type fittings.

Most of the diesel spares shops will have a low power led flood/work light to fit the spec.....it will typically be arround 18-20 watts LED....of those you can use one and it must be at the height specified and aimed to achieve no more than the maximim permitted light above the horisontal.

I worked out the specs a while ago when I reworked the rear of my 4wd ute.
I found that a pair of 50mm 10 watt cree worklights if aimed sensibly where not quite within spec but so close that I am unlikly to come to any undue attention.

Typically the factory reverse light lamp in the not that new vehicles was a 10 watt globe, so no realys required and no surprises.

BTW.....from memory on a toyota reverse lights should be red with a black stripe.

There will be...or there should have been multipin plugs both sides that have the indicator for that side, park, stop and reverse light connections and an eartn return.

white black for earth
green black for left flash
yellow black for right flash
greem white for stop
green for parkers
red black for reverse

cheers