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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 ?
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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
