Why does the Nissan Sylphy have only one reversing light on?
3 Answers
Nissan Sylphy has only one reversing light on, which is a common design in most vehicles nowadays to comply with national standards and save costs. Reversing light: When the car is put into reverse gear, the reversing light switch activates the reversing light circuit, illuminating the white reversing light at the rear of the car to warn vehicles and pedestrians behind, while also serving as illumination. Some vehicles are also equipped with a reversing buzzer or voice warning device, which emits an audible signal while reversing to indicate the car is in reverse. How the reversing light works: The reversing light switch operates as a normally open switch (normally disconnected). When the reverse gear is engaged, the mechanical mechanism presses down the switch contacts, closing the circuit, which turns on the reversing light and activates the reverse gear warning sound. When the reverse gear is disengaged, the switch contacts spring back, and the reversing light circuit returns to the open state.
I've been driving this Sylphy for over five years, and initially wondered why only the right reverse light works. Later, a veteran technician at the 4S店 explained that many cars are designed this way nowadays. Mainly because national regulations only mandate at least one reverse light, while the left light position is actually for the rear fog light. I've tested it during nighttime reversing - the single-side illumination is completely sufficient, covering up to three meters behind the car, even brighter than older models with dual bulbs. This design helps manufacturers save on wiring harness costs, making the car slightly cheaper. If unsure, you can squat behind the car to check - the left housing has no bulb, just a red reflector.
Last time during maintenance, I specifically asked the repair team leader, and he said this single reverse light design is common in Japanese cars. The left taillight cluster in the Sylphy houses the fog light, while the right one is the reverse light. The rearview camera is usually installed on the right side, and the light conveniently illuminates the rear trajectory. European cars prefer symmetrical designs, but regulations don’t strictly require dual lights. If you find that the bulb on the left can be unscrewed, it might have been modified by the previous owner. When replacing the bulb, remember to buy the T15 model—the original halogen bulb costs around 15 yuan.
