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Why don't my reverse lights come on?(5 Spd.)

  • Thread starter Thread starter iwashmycar
  • Start date Start date Apr 30, 2004
I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 7, 2004
1,236
1
39
Columbus, Ohio
Apr 30, 2004
#1
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #1
I noticed the ground behind me being awful dark while backing up at night, so I asked a friend to look while I had it in reverse, and NO LIGHTS.

What could cause this? Somethin' must not be making a connection, but I don't know how Ford hooked em' up.

Thanks,
Adam.
 

BlackFox5.0

Founding Member
Aug 7, 2000
3,514
1
0
Massachusetts
Apr 30, 2004
#2
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #2
There is a switch on the outside of the tranny. I don't know exactly where it is, but yours could be bad. Find out where it is, (maybe from a Haynes manual?) and check the connection to it, if that doesn't work, then replace it.
 
R

ratrapp

New Member
Apr 24, 2004
510
0
0
buena vista,va
Apr 30, 2004
#3
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #3
the switch is on driver side of the tranny.the other switch is the neutral sensing switch on top of the tranny(not excessable with it still in the car)
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Apr 30, 2004
#4
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #4
Crawl underneath with a test light. On the driver's side of the tranny near the rear is a switch that screws into the side of the tranny - it'll have two wires going to it. It's the reverse switch. Pull the wires off. Turn the ignition switch on. Ground your test light - one of the wires should be hot. Jumper the hot wire to the other wire - when you do, your back up lights should come on. If they don't either both bulbs are out, or you have a discontinuity in the wires going to the lights. If they do come on, then the switch is probably bad. If neither wire is hot, then the fuse is probably blown.
 
I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 7, 2004
1,236
1
39
Columbus, Ohio
Apr 30, 2004
#5
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #5
Thanks...I'll try and crawl under there tomorrow.
 

cardudeusa

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
1,744
5
48
Home of the Florida Gators!
Apr 30, 2004
#6
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #6
Same thing with my 87, except it has no wires to hook to the tranny. The tranny has the connector but the car has no wires to hook it to.
 
I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 7, 2004
1,236
1
39
Columbus, Ohio
Apr 30, 2004
#7
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #7
cardudeusa said:
Same thing with my 87, except it has no wires to hook to the tranny. The tranny has the connector but the car has no wires to hook it to.
Click to expand...

LOL...that sucks
 

cardudeusa

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
1,744
5
48
Home of the Florida Gators!
Apr 30, 2004
#8
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #8
iwashmycar said:
LOL...that sucks
Click to expand...

Yeah!!! It's my girlfriends car now and hopefully she doesn't get any tickets. I wonder if ford make a re-wiring kit for it?
 
G

GTRocks

Founding Member
Nov 18, 1998
205
1
18
Lusby, MD
Apr 30, 2004
#9
  • Apr 30, 2004
  • #9
cardudeusa said:
Same thing with my 87, except it has no wires to hook to the tranny. The tranny has the connector but the car has no wires to hook it to.
Click to expand...

Those wires just go up under the center console. I would bet if you pull the center console out, you'd find them tucked up underneath.
 

cardudeusa

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
1,744
5
48
Home of the Florida Gators!
May 1, 2004
#10
  • May 1, 2004
  • #10
GTRocks said:
Those wires just go up under the center console. I would bet if you pull the center console out, you'd find them tucked up underneath.
Click to expand...

Ok, ill have to try that. I hope its tucked up there, this car is a wiring nightmare!!! All kinds of wires cut and gone.
 
I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 7, 2004
1,236
1
39
Columbus, Ohio
May 1, 2004
#11
  • May 1, 2004
  • #11
ratrapp said:
the switch is on driver side of the tranny.the other switch is the neutral sensing switch on top of the tranny(not excessable with it still in the car)
Click to expand...

Is it the thing with the 2 treaded prongs stickin out. Made of rubber? I pulled off some connector in that general area and that is what i got. I didn't trya nd remove the thing from the tranny yet.
 
R

ratrapp

New Member
Apr 24, 2004
510
0
0
buena vista,va
May 2, 2004
#12
  • May 2, 2004
  • #12
if it has 2 prongs on it it's the right swich as the other switch has a connector made onto it
 
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