Back-up light problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
Back-up light problem
For you techie types, here's what I've got:
1996 CE, LT4, manual, all stock.
My reverse lights do not come on. I've changed both bulbs and also noticed that when I shift into reverse I don't get the usual voltage drop when other lights on the car come on. As I recall I got the drop when the lights were working.
Also, I'm getting ready to change plugs and wires. I've got a Chilton and Haynes but they don't seem to give a lot of tips for this particular operations. I've done this plenty of times on other vehicles and I have the tools...just wondering if you guys have any tips for making it go a little quicker/easier.
1996 CE, LT4, manual, all stock.
My reverse lights do not come on. I've changed both bulbs and also noticed that when I shift into reverse I don't get the usual voltage drop when other lights on the car come on. As I recall I got the drop when the lights were working.
Also, I'm getting ready to change plugs and wires. I've got a Chilton and Haynes but they don't seem to give a lot of tips for this particular operations. I've done this plenty of times on other vehicles and I have the tools...just wondering if you guys have any tips for making it go a little quicker/easier.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
If you have tables in your house that rock because of one short leg, make really really good use of your Chiltons and Haynes manuals and use them under the short leg, they are wonderful for that purpose but totally suck for repairing your Corvette. Then, buy the GM service manual and electical diagnosis manual and you will be surprised at how much better these manuals are than what you have been using.
Now for repair advice, first check the turn B/U 15 amp fuse with an ohmeter. If ok, then check the backup switch on the transmission. You can unplug the switch and jump the socket with the ign sw in run and observe if the backup lights turn on. If they do, then the backup switch is likely defective. Check the sw with the xmsn in reverse with an ohmeter. If open circuit, it should be low resistance, then replace the backup switch. I had to have my brother machine a socket to thin the wall in order to get the switch off. Don't overtighten the new switch, it screws into aluminum threads.
Now for repair advice, first check the turn B/U 15 amp fuse with an ohmeter. If ok, then check the backup switch on the transmission. You can unplug the switch and jump the socket with the ign sw in run and observe if the backup lights turn on. If they do, then the backup switch is likely defective. Check the sw with the xmsn in reverse with an ohmeter. If open circuit, it should be low resistance, then replace the backup switch. I had to have my brother machine a socket to thin the wall in order to get the switch off. Don't overtighten the new switch, it screws into aluminum threads.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
The reverse switch is notorious for failing. Mine died about a month after I bought the car. If that is the problem, go to Sears and buy a deep-offset box wrench (closed-end wrench), that is the only tool that will remove it. I messed around for about 2 hours with everything I had in the garage (which is a lot) before I gave up and went to buy the tool. Took 5 minutes once I got home.
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
They do quickly and accurately point out which end of the car contains the engine. Granted they do go down a little bit after that.
The GM manuals for almost every (if not all) year of the C4 has two volumes and is specific to that year. Granted much of the info is the same or similar for some years but for Chiltons and Haynes to try and cover 1984 to 1996 in one manual that is thinner than either volume of the GM set means lots of details are missed and lot of information skipped.
