Reverse Lights

[DV52]

Cheers for that detailed explanation! Will give it a shot when I find some time, thanks for that

Jscobm: I thought that I might sned you the circuit diagram below. It's the power supply arrangement for the trannmitter. As I have indicated, there is no great precision in picking the components. I found (perhaps not surprising if you think about it) that the larger the size of the capacitor, the longer the new backing light will stay illuminated after reverse gear is de-selected. 220uF was about right for my transmitter, but you might need to play with this part of the project. I took the transmitter out of its key-fob case and put it in a piece of heat shrink tubing which I then tucked in behind the tailgate lining.
Good luck with the project. Give me a shout if you get into trouble

[DV52]

Fog lights??? Lol Didn't see one on my first 20 cars Started with an 1954 Austin A70

Hillbilly: my first car was an Austin A30 (which I affectionately called "the coffee-pot"). Had little light-up flags as turn indicators on the center pillar that would pop-out either side of the car. It even had a slot in the front of the engine for manual cranking. Great little car, but I wouldn't be happy for someone that I care-for to drive around in one these days.

Fact is that as we have grown older and as cars have evolved, our concept of acceptable risks has changed. All of us (the great unwashed driving public) have become more risk averse and manufacturers have changed their designs to meet our changing needs (or said better, our changed perceptions of what is acceptable on the road).

I guess that reversing lights fall into that bucket. Doesn't sound like a safety feature, but many (me included) expect more from VW where this matter is concerned. The owner of the Golf that I modified to add a second reverse light just wasn't happy with the illumination level on the mk6. I have to say that when I saw it, I was disappointed as well.
That said, I also have to admit that my modification might have resulted in too much illumination (CREE XLM LEDs have a nominal light level of 2,800 Lumens).

Arrh but, I still think fondly about that rusting, cantankerous old coffee-pot languishing somewhere in some farmer's field!

[Hillbilly]

You missed the usual unfond memory of an A30 The clutch that was either in or out nothing in between LOL

And VW are far from alone as far as single reverse lights are concerned

[RoknRob]

Hillbilly: my first car was an Austin A30 (which I affectionately called "the coffee-pot"). Had little light-up flags as turn indicators on the center pillar that would pop-out either side of the car. It even had a slot in the front of the engine for manual cranking. Great little car, but I wouldn't be happy for someone that I care-for to drive around in one these days.

Fact is that as we have grown older and as cars have evolved, our concept of acceptable risks has changed. All of us (the great unwashed driving public) have become more risk averse and manufacturers have changed their designs to meet our changing needs (or said better, our changed perceptions of what is acceptable on the road).

I guess that reversing lights fall into that bucket. Doesn't sound like a safety feature, but many (me included) expect more from VW where this matter is concerned. The owner of the Golf that I modified to add a second reverse light just wasn't happy with the illumination level on the mk6. I have to say that when I saw it, I was disappointed as well.
That said, I also have to admit that my modification might have resulted in too much illumination (CREE XLM LEDs have a nominal light level of 2,800 Lumens).

Arrh but, I still think fondly about that rusting, cantankerous old coffee-pot languishing somewhere in some farmer's field!

There are way more cars on the road. Your risk of having an accident is much higher today, I suspect. Thank goodness cars are safer!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk

[DV52]

There are way more cars on the road. Your risk of having an accident is much higher today, I suspect. Thank goodness cars are safer!

Roknrob:Your observation is entirely correct of course. I'm aware that this discussion is probably off-topic, but if I could have the indulgence of the ever vigilant off-topic police (does Watercooled even have off-topic police?), I think that your post raises an interesting conundrum.

It's certainly true that more traffic on our roads today and better safety features in our cars are related issues. The more interesting question from your post though is what's really causing folk around the world to become more risk averse (and not just on our roads)? It's a feature that appears to be happening in most modern societies (perhaps less obvious in third world countries). I reckon that better education is probably a factor, but doubtless increasing populations being crammed into ever shrinking spaces also has contributed to our reticence to accept risk. Without question, our perceptions of societal risk are being reinforced constantly by the media who ghoulishly see tragedy as nothing more than product for their news reports. Sadly, modern man (and woman) appears to have a greater distrust of their neighbors (rightly, or wrongly).

But enough of such nonsense. I still reckon that VW's have crappy reverse lights!

[bushman]

Simple solution
3x LED CREE reverse light available from Jaycar gives much better light, with no extra mod required. $25
Enough current draw so warning light is not activated.
Add another to the reverse fog light side for even more light.
Standard bayonet fitting