Help!!! No Back Up Lights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Pinetops North Carolina
Help!!! No Back Up Lights
Help!! 94 convertible with no back up lights.
I checked the fuse that says "back up" it was ok...but i replaced it anyway...i also replaced the bulbs and I still have no back up lights. The license plate light is ok...the 4 main tail lights are ok.The third brake light burns when I hit the brake pedal.
Replacing the fuse and bulbs was all I know how to do. Has anyone
ever seen this problem before?
Regards,Gary
I checked the fuse that says "back up" it was ok...but i replaced it anyway...i also replaced the bulbs and I still have no back up lights. The license plate light is ok...the 4 main tail lights are ok.The third brake light burns when I hit the brake pedal.
Replacing the fuse and bulbs was all I know how to do. Has anyone
ever seen this problem before?
Regards,Gary
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
Likes: 14
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Okeechobee FL
Turn the ignition key on and put the car in reverse and check for power in the wire to the reverse lights with a test light. Then you'll know for sure if you are getting a signal to turn them on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Backup light switch source
Found that RockAuto.com has a pretty good price on the backup light switch for the 6 sp trans...probably for the auto as well, but did not look. I need one for my '95.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 1
From: Farmington, UT
This is a very common issue. It is the backup light switch located on the transmission...if you have a ZF6...it is a mother to get at with the trans in the car...but it can be done. Contact Bill Boudreau at www.zfdoc.com he has the switches and I think he also has a special tool to get at them in the car. Great guy and highly knowledgeable about these cars and the transmissions.
Update: I talked to Bill today and he definitely has a special tool to remove/reinstall the back up light switches with the trans in the car....you can give him a call at (602) 319-6575 or e-mail him at billb@zfdoc.com and he'll get ya the tool...
Update: I talked to Bill today and he definitely has a special tool to remove/reinstall the back up light switches with the trans in the car....you can give him a call at (602) 319-6575 or e-mail him at billb@zfdoc.com and he'll get ya the tool...
Last edited by guinnessdood; Jan 30, 2007 at 01:35 PM.
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Brett Foote
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Erie PA
6 speed back up switch
I just replace my back up light switch on my 93 6 speed. I did the paper clip test and found the switch to be bad. AutoZone had the lowest price for a new switch ($50.00). Went to remove the old switch- PITA!!!! Tried sockets, wrenches, visegrips. Nothing could reach in the area. Had to remove the 2 nuts that hold the clutch cylinder, pushing the clutch cylinder out of the way (no need to disconect the hose). A
7/8" box wrench will fit onto the switch but no room to swing.
A standard socket was not deep enough. A deepwell socket was to long to fit in the area. I went back to Autozone a bought a cheap 7/8" deepwell socket, took it home and cut it down to about 1 1/2" long (removing the end that the ratchet goes into). Welded a 3/4" nut on the end of the socket that I cut. Slid the new socket onto the switch and turned with a 3/4 flat ratchet. Worked great. Don't know of any other tool that would work. Good luck,
7/8" box wrench will fit onto the switch but no room to swing.
A standard socket was not deep enough. A deepwell socket was to long to fit in the area. I went back to Autozone a bought a cheap 7/8" deepwell socket, took it home and cut it down to about 1 1/2" long (removing the end that the ratchet goes into). Welded a 3/4" nut on the end of the socket that I cut. Slid the new socket onto the switch and turned with a 3/4 flat ratchet. Worked great. Don't know of any other tool that would work. Good luck,
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Pinetops North Carolina
ok...the stories of changing the back up light switch on the 6 speed trannys are scaring me.
How big of a pain is it to change on the automatic?..now that i think about it...where on the automatic is it located axactly? is it obvious?
Regards,Gary
How big of a pain is it to change on the automatic?..now that i think about it...where on the automatic is it located axactly? is it obvious?
Regards,Gary
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Pinetops North Carolina
I looked in the GM shop manual and I cant even find the back up light switch mentioned in the automatic transmission section. I found it on the 6 speed...it does look like pain to get to on the 6 speed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,600
Likes: 88
From: Springfield PA
Philly 'Burbs Events Coordinator
Special tool for the ZF switch, take an offset 7/8" box wrench and cut it down so it is about 6" long.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Pinetops North Carolina
Corvette America lists the part and it says the switch is located on the shifter for the auto. It has a picture of the part....it does not really look like a part that would be under a car. It is curved like a quarter moon. Must be right next to the shifter. I suppose my next wrench spinning session will be to take the shifter face plate off and have a little peek....unless of course one of the listers is already into thier shifter and can look for me.
Regards,Gary
Regards,Gary
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
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From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
For the A4 you can get at the reverse switch by removing the console cover. You may find that it just needs a small bit of adjustment to work properly.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Budapest
reverse light switch
I have different issue here. Reverse light did not work, I checked the wiring, bulbs, etc. All worked well. Ordered a new switch, waited long ( delivery took 2 weeks ), removed the old one, tested the new one outside with wires and bulbs, worked fine. But when installed, the light did not go on. Then I cheked the old and the new switch, and realized, that there's a huge difference between them.
Here's the old one:
and the new one:
as we have no dealers here there's nobody who can tell me what I had in my car, or if there was any change in this part nr. over the years. So please help me if you can. Thanks!
Here's the old one:
and the new one:
as we have no dealers here there's nobody who can tell me what I had in my car, or if there was any change in this part nr. over the years. So please help me if you can. Thanks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
This is a very common issue. It is the backup light switch located on the transmission...if you have a ZF6...it is a mother to get at with the trans in the car...but it can be done. Contact Bill Boudreau at www.zfdoc.com he has the switches and I think he also has a special tool to get at them in the car. Great guy and highly knowledgeable about these cars and the transmissions.
Update: I talked to Bill today and he definitely has a special tool to remove/reinstall the back up light switches with the trans in the car....you can give him a call at (602) 319-6575 or e-mail him at billb@zfdoc.com and he'll get ya the tool...
Update: I talked to Bill today and he definitely has a special tool to remove/reinstall the back up light switches with the trans in the car....you can give him a call at (602) 319-6575 or e-mail him at billb@zfdoc.com and he'll get ya the tool...
Bill is the man ! If he cant fix it or advise you about it nobody can.
Last edited by Goldcylon; Apr 6, 2007 at 09:59 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I have different issue here. Reverse light did not work, I checked the wiring, bulbs, etc. All worked well. Ordered a new switch, waited long ( delivery took 2 weeks ), removed the old one, tested the new one outside with wires and bulbs, worked fine. But when installed, the light did not go on. Then I cheked the old and the new switch, and realized, that there's a huge difference between them.
Sometimes changes are made in electro-mechanical devices that drastically alter the appearance of that part, but they are still interchangable. It appears that both parts you show might still have the same application.
Plug the new switch into the wiring harness without screwing it into the gearbox. Activate the plunger manually with the ignition on. Do the backup lights come on??
We have to eliminate one thing at a time....
Larry
code5coupe
__________
I ain't easily impressed....
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 105
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From: Budapest
Thanks! Yes, I'ves tested the old one, it did not work. I've tested the new one manually, the lights came on. I think it must be the switch, and when GM didn't change the part, I have no idea. The old one is a bit longer than the new one, so maybe the part, that should "push" the switch in the transmission cannot reach the new one...