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So I’ve owned this car since last September and just recently noticed the reverse lamps do not work. I did some research into how the lamps work. (Early 79 4 speed manual transmission). To my understanding there is a switch mounted on the side of the transmission and connected to the reverse linkage. So am I looking in the wrong place or is there supposed to be a reverse switch here? The previous owner said the tranny was rebuilt, did somebody forget to put the switch back on?
Note that the switch is backwards in this picture
Mine was missing too but at least the shield/bracket piece was still there and the rod from the reverse lever. Just needed to buy the switch and it came with the wire long enough to plug into the connector by the firewall.
On my 73, the plug/cable for the back up lights switch was under the wiper motor, and being used for the electric choke. I guess Bubba couldn’t figure a way to connect two wires together, so there was no switch or bracket.
Wow, thanks for all the pics, that’s going to be a huge help if I decide to fix it. I’m planning on a tremec 5speed in the near future and I’m sure it comes with all the wiring for back up lights and such, so I’m not sure it’s worth it to put the switch back on. It’s only about $100 in parts so maybe I’ll do it anyway
I wish I’d had those pictures when I installed mine a few weeks ago. Had it in backwards the first time. It’s a tight spot to get into my 2.5” exhaust runs right beside it.
I noticed that the wires are a pink and green, is it the same color wires that would be coming from the main wire harness? When the previous owner failed to reinstall the switch I believe they cut the wires going from the main harness to the back up switch, Im going to have to do some searching for the correct wires, right now even if I installed the switch I have nothing to plug it into.
I noticed that the wires are a pink and green, is it the same color wires that would be coming from the main wire harness? When the previous owner failed to reinstall the switch I believe they cut the wires going from the main harness to the back up switch, Im going to have to do some searching for the correct wires, right now even if I installed the switch I have nothing to plug it into.
They come out of a bundle of wires right by the wiper motor. Same color wires as the switch with a V shaped connector. I can take a picture where it is but if you don’t see those 2 wires with a connector it’s probably gone.
The plug from the back up switch plugs into this connector. Be sure to check on the correct wire colors as this is a 73 Vette The small plug at the top of the picture is coming from the switch. The wire from the switch will reach the female plug, unless Bubba cut the wires. The plug provides 12 volts and ground when the ignition is on. That why my car had the electric choke connected to the plug.
The connector or cut wires are on the firewall adjacent to the right of the wiper motor. I will attempt to get you the picture, but the wire colors are for a 73, dont know if your year has the same color?
Thanks for the pictures, I believe the colors are different for a 79, I have some work ahead of me, bubba made an absolute tangled rats nest of the wiring harness near the wiper motor. This vette is so weird, I can tell in some ways it was very well taken care of and in other ways I'm dealing with stuff like this all the time. Most of the work I've done over the last several months is correcting things like this and/or putting correct parts back on. Probably the same story for a lot of old vette owners.
Thanks for the pictures, I believe the colors are different for a 79, I have some work ahead of me, bubba made an absolute tangled rats nest of the wiring harness near the wiper motor. This vette is so weird, I can tell in some ways it was very well taken care of and in other ways I'm dealing with stuff like this all the time. Most of the work I've done over the last several months is correcting things like this and/or putting correct parts back on. Probably the same story for a lot of old vette owners.
The switch I bought from Zip was for 68-78 so 79 must be different
Let us know on the Forum, when you have other questions. Bubba is like Santa Clause, because he covers the whole world and always seems to leave his calling card��.
I went ahead and ordered everything I need, switch, rod and mounting bracket. The hard part will be figuring out how to wire it up into the rats nest. Oh well, I was planning on cleaning up that mess anyway. All the pictures are going to be a huge help!
Missing back up lamp switch?
