Park/Neutral Safety Switch OR Backup Lamp Switch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
Park/Neutral Safety Switch OR Backup Lamp Switch
I have a 1987 Vette and I've been trying to figure out why my reverse lights are not working and was at the conclusion it was the Park neutral safety switch. After some more research I found out there is also a backup lamp switch. So what exactly does the backup lamp switch do? I'm assuming it activates the reverse lights?
Could my issue still be the park switch? It starts fine in park and neutral. I'm curious which part I'd need to fix this issue. If it's both then so be it, though, finding the park switch has become a pain. None of the local auto part stores has them anymore, discontinued item.
Could my issue still be the park switch? It starts fine in park and neutral. I'm curious which part I'd need to fix this issue. If it's both then so be it, though, finding the park switch has become a pain. None of the local auto part stores has them anymore, discontinued item.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I had problems with my backup lights. They would work if the shifter was pushed forward in Reverse but not if the shifter was pulled rearward. The switch was out of adjustment and a little tweaking fixed it.
There are two screws that hold the switch assembly to the shifter, one in the front and one in the rear. There are slots so the switch can be moved to where it needs to be.
There are two screws that hold the switch assembly to the shifter, one in the front and one in the rear. There are slots so the switch can be moved to where it needs to be.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 350
Likes: 2
From: Huntsville AL
I believe I would start by checking the B/U lamp fuse. If it is good, I'd then check for good B/U bulbs. If both these check out OK, I'd then check for power at the B/U switch. If you have power to the switch, then jumper across the switch. If the lamps light then you have a bad switch or it is out of adjustment. If the lamps don't light then you have an open circuit going back to the lamps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I can't believe it took me two years to respond to this. I guess it's something I had forgotten about!
My reverse lights were intermittent when I first got the car, now they don't work at all. Today I had my interior apart and remembered I had posted about this issue before. I redid the testing I did and came up with turn lights work, fuse receives power, the reverse lights do not come on when jumped, I adjusted and wiggled the neutral safety switch but to no avail. So now I'm stumped. I do have my electronic service manual and normal service manual so I'll consult those soon. Any ideas where to start? Neutral safety switch works how it's designed, for the most part, no crank in gears and solid crank in neutral and park.
My reverse lights were intermittent when I first got the car, now they don't work at all. Today I had my interior apart and remembered I had posted about this issue before. I redid the testing I did and came up with turn lights work, fuse receives power, the reverse lights do not come on when jumped, I adjusted and wiggled the neutral safety switch but to no avail. So now I'm stumped. I do have my electronic service manual and normal service manual so I'll consult those soon. Any ideas where to start? Neutral safety switch works how it's designed, for the most part, no crank in gears and solid crank in neutral and park.
Last edited by Stephenms; Apr 8, 2016 at 01:54 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Are the light bulbs good? Do you have 12 v. on the green wire of your Park/Neutral/Reverse switch with ign. on and in reverse? Do you have a good ground connection at the sockets of the light bulbs? The white lights on the sides of your rear fenders should also come on when you're in reverse.
Two years?!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I'd recommend you start by reading MrWillys, Cliff Harris', and Just Bob's suggestions! They have been anxiously waiting to hear about the solution to your problem!
Are the light bulbs good? Do you have 12 v. on the green wire of your Park/Neutral/Reverse switch with ign. on and in reverse? Do you have a good ground connection at the sockets of the light bulbs? The white lights on the sides of your rear fenders should also come on when you're in reverse.
Two years?!
Are the light bulbs good? Do you have 12 v. on the green wire of your Park/Neutral/Reverse switch with ign. on and in reverse? Do you have a good ground connection at the sockets of the light bulbs? The white lights on the sides of your rear fenders should also come on when you're in reverse.
Two years?!
When I first got the car I cut out a keyless entry unit it had, think it could have been wired into the reverse lights? It wouldn't make too much sense but hey, you never know.
Last edited by Stephenms; Apr 8, 2016 at 02:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I fiddled around with this switch a bit more. I had the significant other check for lights while I removed the neutral safety switch. With the nuts off and the switch loose and gently moved the plastic rails back and forth and also twisting gently. No lights turned on what so ever. The only power in getting with key on is to the darkish blue wire.
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Team Owner
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I fiddled around with this switch a bit more. I had the significant other check for lights while I removed the neutral safety switch. With the nuts off and the switch loose and gently moved the plastic rails back and forth and also twisting gently. No lights turned on what so ever. The only power in getting with key on is to the darkish blue wire.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
The dark blue wire is the power to the switch. If you can't get power to the light green wire, it's time for a new switch. Try a jumper from the dark blue wire to the light green wire on the switch (with key on). Lights?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
I've been looking on the Internet for a park/neutral safety switch for automatic and am coming up empty. There is a used one on eBay for 40 bucks but the owner doesn't know if it still works. There's a "new" one on Corvette Mods but the description their giving is for a manual but the picture is an auto switch lol. Any ideas on where to get one of these things? I hear they rarely go bad. Just in case my switch is bad.
Last edited by Stephenms; Apr 10, 2016 at 07:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Sarasota Florida
Blue to light green DID activate my reverse lights. So with that being said, I'm looking for a new neutral switch. I heard they're interchangeable with 86/87 camaro switches. They look promising but the mounting are different, I'd have to get hands on one and match up. I can't seem to find these switches anywhere. Or rebuild mine?