Hi, i am new to this forum. I have a 1985 Ford F150 pickup, the taillights don't have a backup light in them. My question is, how do I hook up a backup light. I picked up a new backup light assembly and thinking about mounting it to the rear bumper. I just not sure how to hook up new back up light.

 

Manual? Auto? There's a backup light switch somewhere on the tranny or shift linkage, you'll just need to find it and splice into the wire that's hot when the truck is in reverse.

 

Iam sorry I didn't include that. The trans is a manual. I had the trany out when I had to replace the clutch, didn' see any switch.

 

3 speed manual had the switch mounted above the column, just in front of the firewall. It was activated by the rear shift linkage rod.
4 speed manuals had the switch somewhere on the top of the trans, and it was activated by the shift linkage, whether internal or external. There were several 4 speed manuals used, and each had the switch in a slightly different location.

 

I would like to thank all of you who have replied to this thread, I picked up a Chiltons manual for my truck, and found the backup lights wiring in it. I also found where the backup lights were located, I over looked them earlier, they were at the bottom of the tail lights. I took tail light assembly on the left side out and found that the bulb was siezed in the socket. Couldn't get the old bulb out, mounted a light on the bumper. Thanks again for all your help as I appreciated all of it.

 

On several "old" trucks with non-working backup lights, I have found that it is simply that both bulbs are burned out. What must happen is that over time, one bulb burns out without being noticed, especially if it is on the passenger side. But, when the remaining bulb burns out, the driver really notices the lack of light. The old bulbs will be black and when removed, usually have the remains of very thick somewhat hardened paste [dielectric] on the bases. It is best to remove this from the socket and apply a fresh coating of dielectric grease when installing the new bulbs.

For the bulb which you could not remove, put on a pair of leather gloves [for safety], press the bulb into the socket and turn counterclockwise approximately 1/4 turn. If the bulb fractures or twists off, you can insert the tip of a large screwdriver [have ignition turned off or remove the negative cable from the battery to prevent accidental shorting] into the base and then turn to remove. If this does not work, using needle nose pliers, one can grab the metal base and twist to the left. It may literally roll up and come out in pieces.

 

This is exactly how it was for me when I first got mine. Both were burned out, so I just figured the whole backup light system just wasn't working. Finally, I got tired of it and tore into the system and it just ended up being that both bulbs were burned out.

And yeah, it was a bit of work getting the old bulbs out. The smashed bulbs and rolled up, crunched pieces of bulb base / pliers sounds quite familiar.

 

Hi, I took the socket out and tried to take bulb out, it was seized in the socket, I tried to use pliers, but I still couldn't get the old bulb out. I cut the wires and installed a backup light on the bumper. After all that I went online last night, and found new sockets for the tail lights. At this point though I think I will do the same to the other side and call it good. That way both sides will look the same. thank for the reply, I have had the truck for awhile, when I got it the rear brakes would lockup. I finally got the money to redo the rear brakes, I replaced everything on the rear brakes. Than I put new plugs in it, along with new wires. That is when it started to nickle and dime me to death. Had to overhaul the carburetor, than there were vacuum leaks. After all that I was finally able to drive it, but then the clutch started acting up. Bought new clutch, when I pulled the tranny out I saw the mice had built anest in it and there were string hanging out of the pressure plate, that would not let the clutch release all the way, since I had a new clutch I replaced it. Now the calipers are acting up for the front brakes, I am wondering will it ever end. But I realize that is caused by it sitting for so long, I don't know how long it sat before I got it. I have learned the hard way that you can't let a vehicle sit. Hope you are having good luck with yours, after everything with mine I still like it. Have different mod ideas for it, but hope I will be able to do those, as they are going to be expensive to do. Wish me luck.

 

You gotta expect to do some work on a thirty year old vehicle whether it's been sitting or not. On the plus side, 80's vintage Ford trucks are easy to work on and there's no shortage of parts or good info to bring her back from the grave.

My Bronco sat for several years before I got it, too. Had to replace the tank, sending unit and fuel lines from stem to stern and put a kit in the carb before it could even be driven. Most of the money since then has been upgrades - 5 speed tranny, intake/exhaust, etc.

So it's a money pit but in a good way.

 

Yea, I know that an old truck like this will need work but I was just commenting that every time I turn around I need to put more money into it and that it is getting kind of tiring. It also seems to take up all my extra time. But at least now I can drive it so all that time and money seems worth it. Because up to that point I was having to ride a bike back and forth to work. Now that it has gotten colder it is nice to drive to work in a warm truck.

 

True bikers always have an old pickup truck. Not for when the weather gets bad, but to haul the bike around when it needs work.
They just tend to drive the truck more when the weather turns cold/nasty......

 

Hi, Well I am not an old biker, I just couldn't pass up the deal I was got for the truck, and besides with my hobbies being woodworking and metal fab, I need a pickup to haul wood or metal. You could say that this truck is a work truck. I got the truck for the cost of the title transfer. I new when I was asked if I wanted the pickup that it needed work. It wasn't until I was able to drive it that I found out how much work it needed. I like the truck and have a dream of fixing it up into a work truck with power, you now an engine, tranny and rear end swap. I also found out that with the engine that is in it, which is the 300 cui straight six that I could really wake it up with a after market intake manifold, carburetor, headers and a mild cam that I can get more power out of it. At this time I am not sure which way I want to go. I would also like to shave the door handles and lower it about 4 inches. Right now I am going to replace the stock radio with a stereo system that I have, that is out of a car I had.