87 vert...reverse lights still don't work...help needed
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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My helms book has some interesting info. All lights in the rear facia share the same ground. The book shows that the harness(including gas tank sender and all power wires) runs back the pass side 1/4 panel and passes thru the rear bulkhead. The pic shows the ground for a coupe. It is on the pass b-pillar right about ear level if sitting in the seat. Your convertable should be in that general area. I doubt the harnesses are much, if at all different on a vert. Based on the fact that the ground is in the car, safe from the elements, I suspect you will find that mice have been in there. Once you find the ground, you will likely have to open the conduit, cut the harness open and follow the large ground back to the solder joint where they all meet.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,174
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From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
In Helms, there are two connectors shown near the bulkhead on the passenger side behind the wheelhouse. One is for the backup lights and the other is for the tail lights (There may be more there, but the diagram I've got only shows two.) The connector for the backup lights has both the power and ground wires (one each) running through it. Power is light green, and ground is black. This would be a good place to test if your problem is inside the car or in the rear fascia.
Regarding the switch; Helms shows only the Transmission position switch, located near the base of the shifter as having any control over the backup lights. The power wire from there is light green, and it stays light green through a connector near the fuse block, and then under the door jamb to the rear of the car. Both the power and ground wires run to junctions in the rear fascia, and the lights are all wired in parallel from there.
Hope this helps. Good luck, you've got some weird symptoms there.
Regarding the switch; Helms shows only the Transmission position switch, located near the base of the shifter as having any control over the backup lights. The power wire from there is light green, and it stays light green through a connector near the fuse block, and then under the door jamb to the rear of the car. Both the power and ground wires run to junctions in the rear fascia, and the lights are all wired in parallel from there.
Hope this helps. Good luck, you've got some weird symptoms there.
Last edited by Rich Silvestris; Aug 7, 2005 at 11:28 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Hello guys.. I was out under the car recently since I took the wheels off to inspect my parking brake.. I came across this wire that apparently was cut somehow. Its right outside the drivers rear wheel under the floor board right where the ABS box is located. I do know the backup lights share a green and black wire. But this wire is thicker.
The yellow circles is the wire that was cut, the green circle is the hose that seems to have a small tear in it. I don't know what those metal lines are for though.. but I'm guessing fuel lines ? Is this thick black wire par of the back up lights ? I wouldnt think so because everything else works.
The yellow circles is the wire that was cut, the green circle is the hose that seems to have a small tear in it. I don't know what those metal lines are for though.. but I'm guessing fuel lines ? Is this thick black wire par of the back up lights ? I wouldnt think so because everything else works.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Another update.. I cut the skin off both sides on this black wire.. and out came two white wires. What is this for ? Please tell me this somehow brings all the backup lights to this one location.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
It was that wire preventing the lights from coming on !!! 
Geez! And The dealer wanted to charge me 80 dollars an hour to rewire the car because they didnt know the location of the problem when the wire was hanging from the bottom cut ! 
They are crooks ! But I still have a problem.. I have to slightly move the auto stick just above the R slightly and not let it click in place and it still moves in reverse and the lights come on. If I let it click into R.. then it will not come on. Any simple fix for that ?
Geez! And The dealer wanted to charge me 80 dollars an hour to rewire the car because they didnt know the location of the problem when the wire was hanging from the bottom cut ! They are crooks ! But I still have a problem.. I have to slightly move the auto stick just above the R slightly and not let it click in place and it still moves in reverse and the lights come on. If I let it click into R.. then it will not come on. Any simple fix for that ?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by Pete K
That problem is easily fixed by adjusting the shifter cable as mentioned in the previous thread. The place that installed the trans owes you that. It is an easy tweak if you do choose to do it yourself.
I don't think I will be taking it back to the dealer. First of all I h ave to make an appointment. Then I won't be getting my car back for a day or two because other cars have appointments as well. These guys caused me enough trouble and I'd like to avoid them if its an easy tweak and I can do it myself. Let me know what the steps are and will see what happens from there. Thanks.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It is a great feeling to fix it yourself. Congratulations!
By the way, I just had some Magnaflows installed last week. As the mechanic was backing my 87 vert out of the garage I noticed that the rear fender white lites were on too. I had never noticed that before.
By the way, I just had some Magnaflows installed last week. As the mechanic was backing my 87 vert out of the garage I noticed that the rear fender white lites were on too. I had never noticed that before.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
It is a great feeling to fix it yourself. Congratulations!
By the way, I just had some Magnaflows installed last week. As the mechanic was backing my 87 vert out of the garage I noticed that the rear fender white lites were on too. I had never noticed that before.
By the way, I just had some Magnaflows installed last week. As the mechanic was backing my 87 vert out of the garage I noticed that the rear fender white lites were on too. I had never noticed that before.
I need to pass inspection. These were the only two things holding me back when I failed the first time.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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If you look under the drivers side of the car, you will see a rubber boot and cable attatched to the trans pan rail. There is a single 15mm nut that attatches the cable to the shifter shaft. Loosen this nun and move the cable 1/8 of an inch or so. This will fine tune the shifter cable so the indicator on the console lines up better. This will make the back up light come on as the should. May take 2 or 3 attempts, but not at all tough to do.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by Pete K
If you look under the drivers side of the car, you will see a rubber boot and cable attatched to the trans pan rail. There is a single 15mm nut that attatches the cable to the shifter shaft. Loosen this nun and move the cable 1/8 of an inch or so. This will fine tune the shifter cable so the indicator on the console lines up better. This will make the back up light come on as the should. May take 2 or 3 attempts, but not at all tough to do.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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If the lights are coming on when the indicator is between park and reverse, you would move the cable end towards the back bumper. Crap, I am confused. That last statement is right on or dead wrong. Either way you will need to take a couple of attempts, more than likely. Every time I do a trans, I goof that adjustment up a little. Easy fix.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Ok.. I'll give it a try tmw evening. I was thinking it would be towards the rear of the car since it needs to come down a little to actviate the lights when in R. I'll post back tmw evening with my results. Until then have a good one.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Well I tried adjusting the cable somewhat and I either get the light to come on a little before the R or after the R indicator. I can't quite get it in the middle since the metal bracket that holds the 2 15 mm nuts on it keeps snapping forward or backward. I can't get it to stay in the middle. Looks like I'll ask the shop to take a look at it and adjust it for me when I get her reinspected somewhere else.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 3
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
Originally Posted by Pete K
I may have misread your last reply. If the lever is clicking back and forth, It is the selector changing gears. With your third hand 
you may have to hold the bracket with pliers or vice grips.
you may have to hold the bracket with pliers or vice grips. Even with my third hand I'm still having enough trouble while laying on my back with my face right next to the exhaust 
I'll just take it in and have them look at it. 
