reverse lights
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
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From: Western Mass
Are you getting voltage at the lights? Check there first, you probably aren't.
Could be a ground issue, do the other lights work?
Also check the wiring at the transmission. Is this a stick-shift or automatic? Stick-shifts have a switch that screws in that senses when the trans is in reverse and turns the lights on. Automatics have something similar, but I'm not sure how they work.
Could be a ground issue, do the other lights work?
Also check the wiring at the transmission. Is this a stick-shift or automatic? Stick-shifts have a switch that screws in that senses when the trans is in reverse and turns the lights on. Automatics have something similar, but I'm not sure how they work.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
need to fix mine as well. i believe it is my neutral safety switch. I had to bypass the thing just to get it to start. I just honk my horn a couple times to let people know i am backing up, ah well. it would be nice to have them. Just waiting for taxes to get it done.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
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I was messing with my reverse lights the other day was going to install off road backup lights but not getting all 12v. to the back. Well the Reverse Light wire is black w/ violet stripe. it is easy to find in the very back of bed where the wires go to passenger side Taillights. You can use a test light to see if you are getting voltage. there is also a plug where back there on the drivers side, someone did a hack job on wiring up trailer wires and some were corroded.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
need to fix mine as well. i believe it is my neutral safety switch. I had to bypass the thing just to get it to start. I just honk my horn a couple times to let people know i am backing up, ah well. it would be nice to have them. Just waiting for taxes to get it done.
Reverse light switch is on the side of the transmission. Just look where the wires from the chassis go. I'm only familiar with the ZF, but the T-18 or T-19 shouldn't really be much different. There will be two sets of wires if its 2wd, one set has the speedometer cable and connects at the rear. The reverse switch is more towards the middle. 4wd trucks will have the speedometer cable going to the transfer case, so just look for the where the wires go.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
Marshall91F250 you posted as I was writing mine....
I've added auxiliary lights to two Fords so far, both I controlled solely by a switch on the dash (that way you can use them whenever you want, like loading/unloading cargo, setting up a tent etc..) On my Ranger, I ran wires from the battery, through a fuse, the switch, then straight back to the lights. They worked ok. For my F250 I kicked it up a notch. I ran a thicker wire, like 8 or 10 gauge through a big fuse and back to a box at the rear of the truck. In the box are two relays that operate off of two switches on the dash. One relay controls my aux. backup lights, the other is for future use if I end up putting more lights on the front or side of my cap. These lights are much brighter then the ones on the Ranger. And I don't have to worry about overloading the switch either, the one on the Ranger would sometimes get pretty warm.
I've added auxiliary lights to two Fords so far, both I controlled solely by a switch on the dash (that way you can use them whenever you want, like loading/unloading cargo, setting up a tent etc..) On my Ranger, I ran wires from the battery, through a fuse, the switch, then straight back to the lights. They worked ok. For my F250 I kicked it up a notch. I ran a thicker wire, like 8 or 10 gauge through a big fuse and back to a box at the rear of the truck. In the box are two relays that operate off of two switches on the dash. One relay controls my aux. backup lights, the other is for future use if I end up putting more lights on the front or side of my cap. These lights are much brighter then the ones on the Ranger. And I don't have to worry about overloading the switch either, the one on the Ranger would sometimes get pretty warm.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
Neutral safety switch is unrelated to back up lights. The neutral safety switch just reads if the clutch pedal is pushed in. Its used for starting, and cruise control. BTW, that would fail the safety inspection here in mass if they don't work. Plus its downright stupid and dangerous at night, the lights on these trucks are bad enough you can barely see what you're doing when they work right.
Reverse light switch is on the side of the transmission. Just look where the wires from the chassis go. I'm only familiar with the ZF, but the T-18 or T-19 shouldn't really be much different. There will be two sets of wires if its 2wd, one set has the speedometer cable and connects at the rear. The reverse switch is more towards the middle. 4wd trucks will have the speedometer cable going to the transfer case, so just look for the where the wires go.
Reverse light switch is on the side of the transmission. Just look where the wires from the chassis go. I'm only familiar with the ZF, but the T-18 or T-19 shouldn't really be much different. There will be two sets of wires if its 2wd, one set has the speedometer cable and connects at the rear. The reverse switch is more towards the middle. 4wd trucks will have the speedometer cable going to the transfer case, so just look for the where the wires go.
C6 auto and it is the NSS that controls the reverse lighting. I definitely know this. just cant figure mine out. haha. I need to get it replaced bigtime. lol. Sorry bro, but yeah the NSS on C6 autos and the reverse light control is the same thing.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
very much agreed. With the separate reverse switch, i would also check there as well. Sometimes wires can become loose or get the cover worn off and they will short out the system. The connection at the back of the truck that usually trailer connections are hooked into can be at fault as well. Just go wire by wire. itll show up.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
Sorry about that... the OP said manual tranny, and I thought you were the same. Like I said, I don't know where the auto tranny gets the signal... I think you're right though. Try cleaning up the contacts on the switch, or maybe replace it if you're having trouble with starting. Someone that knows about auto trannys chime in???
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
No bro, i am good, lets stick the to the OP issue. I had posted about the C6 auto before he mentioned the trans he had, just throwing out ideas at the time. Now we know he has a manual, it is a different story.
The switch should be on the drivers side of the trans and have two wires coming out of it. See anything like that?
The switch should be on the drivers side of the trans and have two wires coming out of it. See anything like that?
