Reverse light not working

[Rob_2i]

Hello everyone, after trying everything I could find on here and other sites my reverse lights still do not work and I don't know what to try next. The reverse lights have never worked since I bought the car early this year and I'm getting fed up of reversing in the dark! Here's what I've tried so far:

Checked bulbs and holders - both OK and not corroded
Checked fuses - both OK and gave them a scrub with a wire brush because the pins were looking a brownish colour
With the ignition on:
Disconnected reverse light switch and bridged connections with piece of wire and selected reverse - no reverse lights
Took out fuses and used multi meter across where the fuses go - both read 0V
Used multi meter to check voltage across reverse switch connector - 0V
Noticed wires frayed just before they go into the connector so cut off connector about an inch before connector then striped the wires and re-checked multi meter - still 0V and still no reverse lights with them twisted together

I'm guessing there's a break in the wire between the battery and when it gets to the fuse/switch connector? Any suggestions where it might have a break or what else could be wrong?

[micheal balbrig]

Are the reversing lights supplied by a single fuse in your car. I had a quick look at haynes wiring for a3 and reversing lights and other electrics shared same fuse.

[Rob_2i]

In the owners handbook it says reverse light fuses are indicated by a "P" with 3 lines coming off it when looking at the fuse location chart on the back of the fuse board cover, which are fuses 22 and 23 in the fuse board on the drivers side of the dash. Both are 5A of the smaller type of fuse and are located on the furthest left column in the bottom 2 spaces.

[micheal balbrig]

Seems from other posts that fuse number 7 should be starting point for checking.

[Rob_2i]

Fuse 7 is OK and has 11.47V across terminals with the fuse out. But even with the wires to the reverse light switch twisted together and the ignition on the reverse lights didn't work and there is 0V across the wires with them apart.

[micheal balbrig]

It would seem from what you say that power is gone missing between fuse box and reverse switch.
May be worth a look at the cables in vicinity of switch for breakage of cable inside of insulation due to stretching / flexing. ( only possibilities to eliminate)