Back-up light short
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Back-up light short
When I put the car in reverse, it blows the #21 fuse in the IP box. When that fuse blows, then I also lose the lights that illuminate the rear liscense plate and the auto dimming mirror. Sometimes I put a new fuse in and it doesn't blow right away --- but if I drive several miles and then put the car in reverse to back up, the fuse blows. So something is loose or shorting out intermittantly.
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Murfreesboro TN
When I put the car in reverse, it blows the #21 fuse in the IP box. When that fuse blows, then I also lose the lights that illuminate the rear liscense plate and the auto dimming mirror. Sometimes I put a new fuse in and it doesn't blow right away --- but if I drive several miles and then put the car in reverse to back up, the fuse blows. So something is loose or shorting out intermittantly.
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,245
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
When I put the car in reverse, it blows the #21 fuse in the IP box. When that fuse blows, then I also lose the lights that illuminate the rear liscense plate and the auto dimming mirror. Sometimes I put a new fuse in and it doesn't blow right away --- but if I drive several miles and then put the car in reverse to back up, the fuse blows. So something is loose or shorting out intermittantly.
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
HELP ---- any ideas where to look first? I looked at all the wires that go to these llights and I don't see anything obvious ---- but they are all twisted and taped together.
Where to look first? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Last edited by lucky131969; Sep 8, 2010 at 07:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
When I FOB open the locked car, the back-up lights and license plate lights come on fine ---- so I guess everything points to the back up switch on the tranny. Might as well buy one before I jack up the car. Geeeeze, this car has only 9,000 miles on her and has never seen rain. Can't believe this switch went already. GM cost cutting at work. I Guess that's why my everyday driver is a BMW.
Will be several days before I can get to this --- I will let everyone know how things have worked out.
Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge and quick response.
Will be several days before I can get to this --- I will let everyone know how things have worked out.
Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge and quick response.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,245
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
When I FOB open the locked car, the back-up lights and license plate lights come on fine ---- so I guess everything points to the back up switch on the tranny. Might as well buy one before I jack up the car. Geeeeze, this car has only 9,000 miles on her and has never seen rain. Can't believe this switch went already. GM cost cutting at work. I Guess that's why my everyday driver is a BMW.
Will be several days before I can get to this --- I will let everyone know how things have worked out.
Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge and quick response.
Will be several days before I can get to this --- I will let everyone know how things have worked out.
Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge and quick response.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
First thing I would do is remove relay #38 in the underhood fuse box, and try it again. This will isolate the back up switch, and assoicated upstream wiring. If the fuse blows, you have an issue with the back up switch, or associated wiring. If the fuse does not blow, reinstall the relay, and remove the back up lamp bulbs (good time to inspect the sockets). If the fuse does not blow, you have a funky bulb or socket.
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,245
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
I don't understand this. I know my B/U light bulbs and sockets work fine because when I hit the FOB on approach they all light up fine and no fuses blow. So what does relay #38 control and to remove it do I just pull it out? It seems I already know it is the switch or wiring in that circuit --- what don't I understand here?
Thanks
Thanks
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Replaced the back-up siwtch today --- everything seems find now
Thanks to all for their input and directing me to the problem. I never would have suspected that the switch would have shorted out the entire circuit.
Thanks again
Thanks to all for their input and directing me to the problem. I never would have suspected that the switch would have shorted out the entire circuit.
Thanks again
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
