No Reverse Lights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 21
From: Iowa
No Reverse Lights
I've got a strange issue on my '82. All the lights work except the two reverse lights. I have shorted the circuit between the purple and green(?) wires at the shifter, without any luck. I have a ground wire connected to the frame on both sides at the back behind the bumper, so I am thinking that's not an issue. What else can I check? I'd really like to be able to see when I back up!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 221
Likes: 13
From: Central Virginia
Check fuse.
Verify the bulb sockets with a multimeter set on DC voltage.
No voltage then I would check at the reverse switch.
Voltage? then I would check connections going back to the reverse light bulbs.
No voltage at the reverse light switch then I would check the connections going to the switch.
Verify the bulb sockets with a multimeter set on DC voltage.
No voltage then I would check at the reverse switch.
Voltage? then I would check connections going back to the reverse light bulbs.
No voltage at the reverse light switch then I would check the connections going to the switch.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 937
Likes: 435
From: Dutchess county New York
manual or auto ?
I've got a strange issue on my '82. All the lights work except the two reverse lights. I have shorted the circuit between the purple and green(?) wires at the shifter, without any luck. I have a ground wire connected to the frame on both sides at the back behind the bumper, so I am thinking that's not an issue. What else can I check? I'd really like to be able to see when I back up!
Use a meter to see if you have 12v at one or both lights before you go nuts.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 145
Likes: 6
From: Roswell, Georgia
I just went through this experience with my '71 and discovered that the reverse-light sockets weren't seated correctly, so the bulb was never "bottoming-out" to close the circuit. I would start by checking for voltage with a multi-meter (while shorting out the switch). If you're getting voltage, then it's a matter of the socket/bulb both seating correctly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 21
From: Iowa
Great suggestions guys. I'll do some testing and report back with what I find. To be honest, I haven't checked the bulbs. Common sense tells me both can't be bad, but then again, Occam's razor may be in effect!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 250
Likes: 29
When i bought my 1980 i had the same issue. After troubleshooting, it turned out to be a connector that was loose at the firewall above the bellhousing. The connector on it goes to the shifter (4 speed) reverse switch.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 21
From: Iowa
Do you have the turbo 350? Are you saying this connector routes through the engine firewall and under the car to the back? I don't have anything plugged into my transmission. On the shifter inside the car there are four or five wires coming from the shift selector switch. I know the neutral safety switch part of it functions properly.