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Old 07-01-2016, 02:05 PM
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Hawgdified
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Default Reverse Lights

I dont have any reverse lights. Cant figure it out. I replaced the fuse which is in w the blinkers. Blinkers work fine. I changed reverse bulbs. Is it the backup switch ?
Old 07-01-2016, 02:15 PM
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billschroeder5842
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Yes, there is a switch.

What year is your Vette? Auto or manual?
Old 07-01-2016, 02:16 PM
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Knerf
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have a multimeter?

you can test the switch and see or check the wires running back to make sure they dont have a break somewhere in them.
Old 07-01-2016, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by billschroeder5842
yes, there is a switch.

What year is your vette? Auto or manual?
76. Mt
Old 07-01-2016, 02:59 PM
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Easy Mike
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Have you checked the switch?
Old 07-01-2016, 03:01 PM
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I haven't. Im kinda new to all this so not sure where to start or how to find it
Old 07-01-2016, 07:27 PM
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The switch should be attached to the shift linkage on the side of the case. You can jumper the leads to see if the lights come on.
Old 07-01-2016, 08:46 PM
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65GGvert
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The switch is attached to the transmission and has a short linkage rod going to the reverse lever. The short rod could be missing, misadjusted, bent, etc. The switch is adjusted by loosening two screws that hold it to the transmission and rotating the switch until the lights come on in reverse (switch on) and go out in any other gear, including neutral.



Last edited by 65GGvert; 07-01-2016 at 10:18 PM.
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Old 07-05-2016, 05:01 PM
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Richard Daugird
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How difficult would it be to wire a switch to manually turn on the reverse lights when the car is not in reverse? Kinda like a cargo light on a pickup, if you were in a dark parking lot and needed some light.
Old 07-05-2016, 07:23 PM
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65GGvert
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Originally Posted by Richard Daugird
How difficult would it be to wire a switch to manually turn on the reverse lights when the car is not in reverse? Kinda like a cargo light on a pickup, if you were in a dark parking lot and needed some light.
Not difficult at all. Just wire a switch across those pink and green wires I posted. You can get to it at the firewall under the master cylinder, or at the transmission. Shorting the pink and green wires turns on the reverse lights, just as shifting the transmission to reverse shorts those same two wires. It's probably not a good idea, because you'll probably end up driving with them on, but it will work.
Old 07-05-2016, 08:39 PM
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Alan 71
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Hi,
I believe adding the switch as 65GG suggested is even easier than he described… that pink/green connector that's on the engine side of the firewall is part of the DASH harness (it comes through the 4 hole grommet along with the tach cable and oil pressure line, on '70ish cars).
So it can be pulled back into the interior and the switch added.
Regards,
Alan


Last edited by Alan 71; 07-05-2016 at 08:48 PM.
Old 07-05-2016, 09:18 PM
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71 Green 454
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
The switch is attached to the transmission and has a short linkage rod going to the reverse lever. The short rod could be missing, misadjusted, bent, etc. The switch is adjusted by loosening two screws that hold it to the transmission and rotating the switch until the lights come on in reverse (switch on) and go out in any other gear, including neutral.

I would check the short linkage rod, maybe a clip fell off.


Old 07-05-2016, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
I believe adding the switch as 65GG suggested is even easier than he described… that pink/green connector that's on the engine side of the firewall is part of the DASH harness (it comes through the 4 hole grommet along with the tach cable and oil pressure line, on '70ish cars).
So it can be pulled back into the interior and the switch added.
Regards,
Alan

My thinking was that he also wanted the lamps to still work in reverse when shifted, so adding the switch and running the two wires to the plug at the firewall was my solution. I may have misunderstood his intentions, but now with your idea he knows his choices.
Did you notice that the guy wanting to add a switch was not the same as the OP whose switch didn't work?
Old 07-07-2016, 10:17 PM
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Looks like we may not hear from either of them.
Old 07-08-2016, 09:16 PM
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Hawgdified, don't leave us hanging. Did you find the problem?
Old 07-09-2016, 10:11 AM
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Originally Posted by 65GGvert
Hawgdified, don't leave us hanging. Did you find the problem?
Not yet. Havent had a chance. My plan is to clean the switch first because its really gunky. Could be just stuck. Then go from there. Thanks for all the feedback

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