I have no power to my reverse lights both sides. any idea where to start looking for the problem? I am running a 83 bronco I-6 300 w manual trans. checked fuses already, hope somebody can give me a short cut to traceing the whole wire front to back.
thanks

 

Well, I 'd be checking the combination Backup/neutral start switch.

It could be on the side of the trans or on the column.

 

Hey guys.

I have the same Bronco, same year, same motor, same problem. I read the wiring diagram and traced the purple/orange wire to the backup light switch and found a massive short. I cut back as far as I could to find unmelted wire and ran two new pieces of wire to the switch. with a 15 amp fuse, the blinkers worked fine, then I put the stick in reverse and blew the fuse again.

I hope you get the answer you need because it's the same one I need

 

I was under the truck today and found the same thing fried wire from the tranny right back to the wire bundle on the frame.
if there are 2 like that there has been more, hopefully somebody who has fixed before will see this soon.
I guess I'll wait a few more days to see if we get any ideas because if yours burt again mine probably will too,
If you figure it out let me Know and I'll do the same
good luck

 

Hey monster.

O.K. After changing both blinker and flasher relays at the fuse block, I took mil1ion's advice and changed the backup light switch on the tranny ( no easy feat, had to take up the floor mat and go in through the top ). Everything looked alright until I drove to the store and used the blinkers while the brakes were on. Blew the fuse again.

So, I took my Bronco to the shop to get it inspected and figured I'd let them look at it and see if they could find out what the problem was.

The mechanic changed the flasher relay (again) and it kept blinking irratically so he started looking around underneath by the left side brake light. He poked and pulled and the flashers evened out and then the blinkers started working right and the back up lights worked as well without blowing the fuse, so it looks like I have a short in the drivers side brake light bundle somewhere.

The guy that had this before me said he had bottomed out the back one day four wheeling and said the problem started then. Maybe with mine the trailer pig tail got yanked and it pulled on the brake light wire to much and that is causing the short, but right now it works. The guy also, instead of looking for the problem, put a higher amp fuse in the block to make the blinkers work, and that is what fried the wire to the back up light switch.

I don't know if any of this helps, but checking the wire bundles at the back lights might not be a bad idea.

Have a good one and let me know how your's works out.

 

Kids, never put a bigger fuse in place of a smaller one, unless you want to cook marshmellows and hotdogs on a stick while camping next to your vehicle