backup light switch
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
backup light switch
anyone know where the switch is located on a powerglide, i'm pretty sure my '65 had backup lights but they are not working so either i get them or will rewire for tail/brake lights. Also did brake lights work on all 4 rears if there was no backup light option? Does it help to take off the rear exhaust valence to access the lights and wiring, pretty hard to see up there.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,571
Likes: 117
From: Conroe Texas
Should be on the transmission.
Yes, and maybe yes. My 65 has side exhaust, so I was able to replace my rear wiring without dropping the rear valence.
But I did remove the right rear light, and attach a string to the right rear light harness and fed that string to the left side of the car as I pulled out the old wires. Then I connected the string to the new wires and pulled it back through.
Also did brake lights work on all 4 rears if there was no backup light option? Does it help to take off the rear exhaust valence to access the lights and wiring, pretty hard to see up there.
But I did remove the right rear light, and attach a string to the right rear light harness and fed that string to the left side of the car as I pulled out the old wires. Then I connected the string to the new wires and pulled it back through.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,877
Likes: 1,282
From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If you do not have back up lights all 4 are tail and brake lights will work, If only your outer lights are on, look at the wire harness plug for the inner lights and see if it has one or two brass pins inside if it has one your car had back up lights. look at the harness for splices.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
If you do not have back up lights all 4 are tail and brake lights will work, If only your outer lights are on, look at the wire harness plug for the inner lights and see if it has one or two brass pins inside if it has one your car had back up lights. look at the harness for splices.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,571
Likes: 117
From: Conroe Texas
The harness connectionin this photo is where the main dash harness connects to the backup light switch harness, for my 65. The main dash harness was different for a backup light car, versus a non backup light car. The backup light switch harness is a short harness that runs from this connector, to the switch.
Also, backup lights were part of the "comfort" option which included the day/nite interior rear view mirror. Another indicator of what your car may have had originally.
Also, backup lights were part of the "comfort" option which included the day/nite interior rear view mirror. Another indicator of what your car may have had originally.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
interesting, problem is my car starts in gear and yes it should have the neutral safety switch, another fly in the ointment! Wonder if they did things differently during the year, my car was a May build, thanks Jack for bringing that to my attention, guess i'll have to lift the console and see if it's there...
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,571
Likes: 117
From: Conroe Texas
Ack! Brain fart on my part!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,571
Likes: 117
From: Conroe Texas
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
The backup light switch and neutral safety switch for a Powerglide in 1966 is housed in a single unit and is located in the console. It's actuated by the lower end of the Powerglide shifter as the shifter moves through the positions.
I'm relatively certain that the '65 is the same, although the 1963 and 1964 backup light switches for the Powerglide (and for the manual transmissions as well) was located on the transmission.
I'm relatively certain that the '65 is the same, although the 1963 and 1964 backup light switches for the Powerglide (and for the manual transmissions as well) was located on the transmission.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,918
From: Washington Michigan
I think Dave Zuberer posted this a while back - shows how the NS-B/U light switch attaches to the Powerglide shifter, as shown in the Assembly Manual (section M35, sheet 10). Cars with backup lights had a different main body harness with the light green feed wire for the lamps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
interesting, problem is my car starts in gear and yes it should have the neutral safety switch, another fly in the ointment! Wonder if they did things differently during the year, my car was a May build, thanks Jack for bringing that to my attention, guess i'll have to lift the console and see if it's there...
It's easy enough to do on my '66, two purple wires (as I recall the colors) plug together at the back of the hood ledge just below the center of the hood. On the '66, if you had a manual transmission these two were plugged together, I believe. If you had the Powerglide, they were unplugged from each other and plugged into the neutral safety switch wires leading down to the switch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 1,085
From: Aggieland TX
I believe Ron has it right above. The attached pic shows the engine harness as I received it from LL. Those connectors were mated and taped. The shot below is after I made the connections with the leads from the switch routed though the firewall.
As I recall, you will need to remove the console and screws that mount the shifter. Also need to disconnect the linkage at the trans.
I'd try to take a look from under the car to see what you can see also.
Dave Z
JohnZ, that is one of my earlier pics. Thanks. DZ
As I recall, you will need to remove the console and screws that mount the shifter. Also need to disconnect the linkage at the trans.
I'd try to take a look from under the car to see what you can see also.
Dave Z
JohnZ, that is one of my earlier pics. Thanks. DZ
