CLUB OF CAR FANS
Investigation
"FROG" IN THE BOX
Do the reversing lights not light?
First of all, check the switch installed on the gearbox.
Maxim Sachkov
The service life of the reversing light switch, popularly known as the “frog” (less often the “vakashka” from the designation VK on the body), should be no less than that of the car itself. However, most “frogs” die much earlier. Four unfortunate representatives of the automotive fauna fell into the hands of investigators of the Republic of Zarazhstan. The first pair was bred in Vladimir at the Tochmash production association, the other with the stigma of Avtokomplekt OJSC, originally from Bashkiria.
The eternal problem of circuit breakers is defenseless contacts. So far, no manufacturer has tried to protect them from deadly moisture and salt. The plates are oxidized, the contact in the compounds disappears, the lights go out. True, in 1998, Vladimir breeders bred a new breed of “frogs” (photo 1, in the middle). The contacts of the upgraded circuit breakers are covered with plastic. Such protection saves from mechanical impact; oxidative processes are still in full swing.
Having heard about the mass defect, Vladimirites were surprised: failures, according to factory statistics, are infrequent. Meanwhile, it turned out that it was not anyone who was concerned about this problem, but the Gorky Automobile Plant. From its supply, new switches for the Volga, which Tochmash will release in the near future, are closed with a special rubber cap. But admirers of the "Lada" and "fields" so far have nothing to please.
However, the two Vladimir “frogs” that came to us did not survive to the oxidation of contacts, having refused much earlier. Symptoms are as follows: the white lights at the stern of the car burned not only when moving backward, but also forward. The reason was found out right after the rescue of the switches from the gearboxes. The ball in contact with the rod of the reverse gear fork firmly stuck in the housing and closed the contacts. To understand why he froze forever, an autopsy was performed. The paralysis was caused by foreign particles that got inside the “frogs” along with the oil (photo 2, a). So, the reason was covered in grease or dirt got in the assembly. Of course, this is a mess and a reason to think to manufacturers and switches, and gearboxes. But the aggregates digested incomprehensible specks without consequences … and the circuit breakers, unable to withstand it, ordered a long life.
The Bashkir "frogs" were distinguished by leaky cases: plastic easily rolled in a metal base. Through leaks, oil and dirt got on the internal contacts, and the switch stopped working (photo 2, b). At Avtokomplekt, they assured that the problem was solved three years ago: then they revised the assembly technology, slightly changed the design of the metal part, they began to control quality more strictly. I do not want to think about the futility of these measures - we will consider that we have got old "frogs" or fakes.
And yet it turns out weird. Car enthusiasts complain about unreliable parts, circuit breakers fail, and factories assure us of the opposite. Apparently, most readers of the magazine and the editorial staff are simply unlucky - out of a great number of high-quality details, they get … worthless.
It is hoped that the efforts of the Vladimir and Bashkir factories "frogs" will become, as in a fairy tale, princesses …