Single Reversing Light-I take a Dim View

[beachboy]

After my test drive on the Leon FR DSG I could not fault a single thing.
I have now found one, a single reversing light.
As a cost-cutting measure this is truly pathetic. It is made worse by the fact that the single light is located on the nearside of the car. This is not quite so bad if you have a left-hand drive car but obviously SEAT was not going to produce a reversing light on the offside just for UK customers.
The Mk 1 Leon has two excellent reversing lights.
Short of mounting some hideous aftermarket light(s) I can only think of replacing the bulb with a Philips Vision Plus version.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_list.asp?cat1=39&cat2=31

I just hope fellow Leon Mk 2 owners do not have to do regular night-time reversing over any distance.

 

[m0rk]

I think that the LHD cars do have a different arrangement, as the fog light needs to be in the offside.

So you could buy a LHD cluster for the offside, quick bit of re-wiring & have 2 reversing lights at the loss of the (legally required) fog lamp

it's all about asthetics, not cost cutting. many new cars are like this

 

[chrisboyle999]

it's all about asthetics, not cost cutting. many new cars are like this

quite true.

the reversing light is there as a benefit to other road users, not as an aid to parking.

if you are parking somewhere that it is too dark to see what your going to bump into, then how do you feel about leaving your car there for any period of time? i certainly wouldnt be comfortable with it.

 

[leon1p]

I reverse out my folks drive all the time.. or reverse in it makes no difference. The light does nothing to help.. i usually switch on the rear fog, lightly brake and often end up sticking my head out the door. Surely the light is not just there to act like and indicator to other motorists it must serve a certain ammount of illuminating purpose?

I even considered some sort of hidden led pin lights.. maybe in the dummy aero kit vents where they wouldnt be seen when off.

 

[googies]

Legally i think it there to aid as an indicaiton that the vehicle is reversing. Few threads on the Alteas/Toledos about reversing lights (same setup).

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=84903&highlight=reversing+light

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=106060&highlight=reversing+light

 

[beachboy]

chrisboyle999,
Reversing lights have a dual function.
As you mention, they warn other road users that you are reversing.
They also illuminate the area behind you when reversing in the dark.
Sometimes there is no option but to reverse into a particular location if there is insufficient room to turn round (e.g. at a friend's house up a narrow drive).
So, if you do not follow the friend's advice to reverse in, you will still need to reverse out.
I take the point about aesthetics but I still prefer the Mk 1 Leon's twin lights.

 

[Jon Legge]

Mine came with reversing sensors so i just keep going til it tells me to stop!!.....

 

[phil3012]

I don't think any car that I've had has ever had 2 reversing lights, so not a cost cutting on SEAT's behalf.

My drive is very dark, the single reverse light makes no difference and I need to avoid hitting my girlfriends car parked behind (not directly behind). I just dab on the brakes lightly enough for the brake light to come on, the 3 of them give enough light to see what is behind. I suppose I could try the rear fog light as that might give some light too.

 

[chrisboyle999]

chrisboyle999,
Reversing lights have a dual function.
As you mention, they warn other road users that you are reversing.
They also illuminate the area behind you when reversing in the dark.

perhaps so,
but when the lamps themselves are legally limited to 24w, your never going to need to worry about burning the paint off the garage door.

 

[beachboy]

chrisboyle999,
I'll take that as a "yes" then, not a "perhaps so"?

 

[Icehquk]

I'd agree it's to dim, have often wondered if it's even working! Have to sometimes park at work where it is dark this time of year it's classed as airside so couldn't be safer. There is just a particular spot thats really dim but I may try turning the fog light on not a bad tip

 

[leon1p]

Mine came with reversing sensors so i just keep going til it tells me to stop!!.....

I would like to see how that helps you avoid parking your motor in my folks pond

 

[Tom B]

If it was true cost cutting, they'd get rid of them altogether. They're not legally required in the UK and they're not tested at MOTs.

 

[RCS2K4]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about? Us Ibiza owners have never had the luxury of 2 reversing lights! Besides, what do you need them for... When your reversing, theres always the good old fail safe if you dont have parking sensors...

Waiting for the crunch, lol

 

[Gib83]

In the 4 cars i've owned ive only ever had 1 reversing light on them. I guess its what you get used to.

 

[phil3012]

Could be wrong, but I did think that all new cars had to be fitted with them from the mid 1980's onwards.

 

[googies]

Put a towbar on, saved me once.....reversing >>>>wall>>>>bump! Just use fog light if you are stuck.

 

[rpmleon]

After my test drive on the Leon FR DSG I could not fault a single thing.
I have now found one, a single reversing light.
As a cost-cutting measure this is truly pathetic. It is made worse by the fact that the single light is located on the nearside of the car. This is not quite so bad if you have a left-hand drive car but obviously SEAT was not going to produce a reversing light on the offside just for UK customers.
The Mk 1 Leon has two excellent reversing lights.
Short of mounting some hideous aftermarket light(s) I can only think of replacing the bulb with a Philips Vision Plus version.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_list.asp?cat1=39&cat2=31

I just hope fellow Leon Mk 2 owners do not have to do regular night-time reversing over any distance.

I must agree with everything Beachboy has said. I do so miss the twin reversing lights that my Mk1 had and, re the cost cutting question, if the old model had 2, why not the new model

Parking sensors are fine if you have something solid behind. Nicely put across I think by Leon1p and his parents pond

I personnally find reversing in the Mk11 is a lot more difficult than in the Mk1 due to restricted all round vision (Not me! The car) and I'm getting old and it is annoying to go from good reversing light"s" in the Mk1 to a really poor single light on the Mk11.

Since identifying the problem I have always used my rear fog lights when reversing. Try it Icehquk. It may not be perfect but I do find it helps

RPM

 

[beachboy]

rpmleon,
Thanks for your support (you can have it back after I've washed it!).
But I digress.
To all you parking sensor fans out there, have a look at the link below. This is one up on the pond (thanks, leon1p) but exactly the same principle applies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7136475.stm

If only I could find a pair of aesthetically pleasing aftermarket units to fit flush in the rear panel. In the meantime I 'll go with the superior bulb plus the rear foglight as recommended earlier.

 

[leon1p]

How do parking sensors work around mesh/wire fences? I saw on top gear when the self parking car did "ok" but still hit their fence.. I presume because it couldn't detect a solid object.