Yes, the car is my yellow '80 242. The tranmission and OD are from an '84.

No, I'm talking about the the back up lights. I see why you might be reminded of the OD condition.

Your location is a little bit off. It is probably a foot or so ahead of what you are thinking. # 55 in the diagram below is where the reverse light switch is on the M45/46/47. For whatever reason, this illustration shows a plug. But that is the location for the switch.

I used the rubberized cork because that's what I had on hand. I used it in 2003 between the gearbox and intermediate housing. See # 61 in the diagram. It has never leaked at this mating. I'm not real concerned about it's ability to seal the cover plate.

But I agree, it is thick in terms of gasket material. Probably 1/16". Still, I don't think that is the issue here.

The switch is closed when the selector plate, # 48 moves far enough to the left to engage reverse. The tent-like looking piece of formed steel is what actually does the deed unless I'm greatly mistaken.

So it's not a matter of up and down or the switch being 1/16"± higher than previously.

The reverse lights should come on as soon as the shifter is moved all the way left, with the reverse detente knob pulled up of course. And they do. But they should stay on. In this case the return spring pulls the selector plate back just far enough to allow the switch to open. That was not happening previously.

So it would seem be the addition of the copper gasket causing this. That makes the most sense.

But the gasket is supposed to be there! And that's what pisses me off about the whole experience. I do something right and it causes a problem. This is a friggin' copper gasket. It's not that thick to begin with and it should compress, being soft. It can't have put the switch that much further away. A miniscule amount at most. But that may be all it takes.

One other thing it might be is the switch itself. It is the original one. Maybe the plunger has lost some travel and doesn't protrude out from the switch far enough. But I'm not sure. I Don't know how they fail.





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'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon