If the switch wasn't connected, you shouldn't have to put into reverse for the lights to come on, but I'm glad to hear that you do have reverse lights when it is jumpered. This does seem to indicate that the switch is the culprit. Were you able to test for a short in the switch to confirm? Use a multimeter to test resistance from each pin of the switch to the case of the transmission. Both should read infinite resistance with the switch unplugged.

I don't believe that you'll need to remove the transmission entirely to replace the switch. If you look into the wheel well further, you'll see the round top of the switch on the top of the transmission. There is a metal "finger" for lack of a better term that holds the switch in. The finger can be unbolted from the passenger side of the transmission. To make more room on the top, I would put a jack under the transmission and remove the transmission mounts. Slowly lower the jack to tip the tail of transmission downward to make a little more room on the top.

 

I didn't have a multimeter like i thought. I must have turned it in when I left my last job. is it possible there is a battery tray that can be removed and you can see the top of the transmission? I'd like to confirm this first before losing my radio settings.

 

No. There is a sort of false firewall underneath the battery tray. Bolted to the bottom of that is the steering rack. You'll have to attack it from under the car.

 

well i don't have a jack or garage at the moment but I got it up on the ramps in the gravel driveway tonight and tried to get my arm in there which I could but I couldn't turn a wrench so I'm gonna take it by the mechanic tomorrow to see if we can get it on the lift and take off the passenger side wheel and get it from that angle instead of from directly under. also Alldata.com says it should take 15 to 30 minutes to knock this out, unfortunately they don't give any directions.

 

Hi,
I have a 2001 A4 1.8t Avant, been searching the web for days now to find out how to replace the reverse light switch when i came across this thread, please tell me you can help, i just need to know how to replace the switch, does it just pull out of the box and new one plug back in or how does one remove the switch?
Have already done the other checks and removed the metal clip that keeps it in place.
Thanks.