Engine dies when reverse is selected?

[Telford Mulisha]

Van hasn't moved since dubs at the castle.
Took it for a spin ready for vw action tomorrow, tried to reverse onto the drive and it cut out. Turn the key and it starts 1st time, select reverse and it dies.
So I pulled the cables off the reversing lights and reversed onto the drive.
I put the negatives back on, all fine but when dabbing the lives onto the terminal it kills the engine.
It doesn't matter which reversing light I dab on it kills the engine.

Any clues as to where to start looking?

Nik

 

[easy]

Its an earth somewhere, have you had any engine work lately? it will be the reverse lights are picking up an earth from somewhere i bet

 

[Happystamps]

either that or maybe the power feed to the reverse lights is connected to the negative side of the coil- worth a check for two minutes of your time.

 

[Telford Mulisha]

Nothings been touched in the engine bay for 3 years apart from fitting the leisure battery 12 months ago. Going have a fiddle now.

 

[Telford Mulisha]

Easy your right on the money!

Just belled it out with a meter... Dead short to earth when reverse selected. Just got to find the puppy now.
The joys of a lowered bus... better get the jack out