Back up lights staying on in forward gears

Bought a 2003 Golf TDI automatic (01M)
Reverse lights stay on EXCEPT for when its in P,N,1st gear. They are on if I put the selector in 2,3,D. I've changed the bulbs, fuse, multi function switch in the tranny. Connectors all look in great condition. What else could cause this......possible relay issue (175 under the dash)??

Gotta think it's the switch/sensor that realizes it's in reverse. Base of the shifter maybe?

Ya, I'll rip it apart this weekend and see if I can see anything....

There is nothing at the base of the shifter that will help you. since you've changed the multifunction switch most likely it is in the wiring or the relay. Relay should be cheap and easy to get since everyone is converting. Vagcom would be helpful

The 175 relay under the dash was going to be my next check. I do have a cheaper vagcom(401) how can I use that to check if it will let me?

I dont know what cheaper vagcom 401 means.

Cheaper I meant that mine cost about $60 cdn and doesn’t show me all the stuff I see you guys talking about but still let’s me in to do more than a reg obdII

PROBLEM SOLVED: so went to a friends place that has a local scrap yard and out of all of them, found an automatic 1.8T that was auto so I yanked the 175 relay out and tried it. My backup/reverse lights work as they should! ALSO I had an issue where certain times my car would down shift out of overdrive and not go back into overdrive until I shut the car off and started it again (but no limp mode) after changing the 175 relay now I can’t duplicate that issue either. I will update if I notice anything else.