Revearse tail lights
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17
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Revearse tail lights
Bought a 1979 with the bubble lights. I traded them out for the original "Old school" tailights. Everything works except the reverse lights. (the sockets did not fit but I cut them to fit) I even changed the bulb to 1156 and it still does not work. My guess is the prior owner changed the sockets to fit the bulb lights (which do not have reverse).. Need to know if the problem is the socket was changed also for the bubble lights and I need tyo change them out to the original sockets - and if so is there any thing special with the wiring??
Also, does anyone know a good vette mechanic in NW phoenix area that is good with electrical??? And is reasonable?? My car is pocessed.
Thanks,
Dan
Also, does anyone know a good vette mechanic in NW phoenix area that is good with electrical??? And is reasonable?? My car is pocessed.
Thanks,
Dan
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
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St. Jude Donor '07
The bubble light lenses are usually double brake/running lights with a 1157 bulb in each one. The original set up was the 1157 bulb on the outside two and the 1156 bulb for the backup lights. The PO would have had to switch out the sockets on the wiring harness to run 1157 bulbs with the new bubble lenses. You most likely will to obtain the sockets for the 1156 bulb to get the reverse lights up and running again, just as you suspect.
You will most likely need to dig into the wiring harness to find the reverse light wires to splice in the proper sockets. If you are lucky, maybe they just folded them back out of the way and did not cut them off.
You will most likely need to dig into the wiring harness to find the reverse light wires to splice in the proper sockets. If you are lucky, maybe they just folded them back out of the way and did not cut them off.
Last edited by c69vete; Oct 3, 2012 at 08:03 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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My bubble conversion came with new pigtails to replace the original back up lamps. These used scotch locks to connect with the outers and did not require cutting the original back up lamp sockets. I taped the original backup sockets to the harness out of the way.
Can you tell if your original back up sockets are still up under there?
Can you tell if your original back up sockets are still up under there?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Probably the reason is that the sockets have been changed when he went to the bubble lights, just did this 2 months ago, i have the installation sheet.
Compare the wiring.
Compare the wiring.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17
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What i need to know now is how the wiring was originally to the reverse lights. Assuming i have the original socket do i splice any wires into the the other tail light? I noticed with the bubble lights that i had a brown and a green wire dangling so i am guessing the original socket has a yellow and a black wire which i splice with the other light and the brown dangling wire is the reverse which i connect with the original. I am in the process of getting the original socket.
Does this sound right?
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '07
I don't think you can use the running light sockets at all to convert back to reverse lights. You will have to find or obtain the reverse sockets as were originally supplied for that light.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
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If the original back up sockets are still under there and have not been cut, you won't have to splice anything. Take the bulbs out of the bubble kit inner sockets; tape the sockets to the wiring harness out of the way, and plug your orignal backup lamps back in.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
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If it were that easy we would not be having this conversation!! No the originals are not there. I am getting a pair of original sockets. I cut out the bubble sockets. When I get the original sockets for the back up (ie they will go in the inner two tail lights) I want to know how to connect them so I will have reverse lights - do I splice them into the black, brown and green wires that go to the outer two tailights ( Directional lights). When I cut the bubble sockets out I left the splices intact so I can just hook onto those wires if necessary.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17
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ok I just asked another person a question before I saw this - so the reverse sockets plug into wires that are not attached to the running lights. Ok that explains why there is a brown and a green wire dangling - they are probably the wires that go to the reverse. I will see what the reverse socket looks like when I get it - but that makes sense. Thanks!!!!