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so turns out the neutral safety switch was bad. was the original and after 38 years of service i'd say it did it's job... i ordered one online for $20 and after a 20 minute job of crawling around underneath i now have reverse lights!!
Congratulations on getting them working! The backup lamps aren't great, but they're better than nothing. And having them NOT work really upsets my OCDness!
On my brown truck, I installed some LEDs on the receiver hitch, ran a fused hot to a relay, and triggered them off the reverse lights
So if my reverse lights only come on depending on where the column shifter is positionally (slightly up = on, slightly down = not on), what do I need to check? I'm assume a contact or level is worn out. Should I be looking on the transmission or column?
So if my reverse lights only come on depending on where the column shifter is positionally (slightly up = on, slightly down = not on), what do I need to check? I'm assume a contact or level is worn out.
It does sound like your switch might be failing and be in need of replacement, but there is something to try first. They have a bit of adjustment available.
I forget if you have to have it in Neutral or Park (I think Neutral) but you can loosen the two attaching screws and twist the switch until you can insert a drill bit (maybe 3/16" or so?) or coat hanger wire into the hole all the way. This shows the holes in the body and the contact plate in alignment.
Tighten the screws back down and see if it works better.
If it's still finicky, then it's time to replace it.
Originally Posted by Mikey G
Should I be looking on the transmission or
column?
1979 F-150 4x4 351M
In spite of what the Hayne's and Chilton's shop manuals say, yours should theoretically be on the side of the transmission where the shift linkage is.
Otherwise it's on the column. But in my experience all the 4wd trucks with the 351M or 400 engines had the C6 trans with the switch on it.
Found it. My 1979 F-100 Ranger has a 302 with a 4 speed manual on the floor. The reverse switch was just hanging, turns out it should be mounted. The threads are broken off so I have to get a new one, but at least I know everything works.
Yep, that'll do it!
When you get the new one, make sure that your mounting bracket is not too close to the actuating lever or it might be putting too much strain on the switch itself. Could literally be putting enough pressure on things to break it and push it out of the hole.
Never seen that on a Ford truck specifically, but have seen it happen on other vehicles. And what made me think of it is that in your pic it looks like the two components are very close. Might be normal, but I figured I'd mention it.
Oh, and welcome to FTE as well! Glad you were able to find the info you needed.
Do you have to pass safety inspections where you live and had to get it working? Or did you just (like most of us) happen to really like when the backup lamps work?
Thanks good call. It's a good potential that they may be too close. For a truck that has 48k original farm miles there is a lot of slop in between the gears of the transmission, so I will have to look at how to tighten that all up here sometime soon.
I don't have any safety inspections in Iowa, just a bit OCD. Bought this thing as a Craigslist find for $1200, and drove it home 90 miles at 70MPH with no issues.
Found it. My 1979 F-100 Ranger has a 302 with a 4 speed manual on the floor. The reverse switch was just hanging, turns out it should be mounted. The threads are broken off so I have to get a new one, but at least I know everything works.
I'd always assumed that the reverse light switch threaded into the transmission case on the truck 4 speeds, like on later transmissions such as the SROD and T5.
1979 ford f150 automatic trans, everything works with the switch except the reverse lights, Replaced neutral switch, checked bulbs and sockets. If I run a hot from battery straight to the black/red pin on connector They work
Last edited by gcope71; Jul 29, 2023 at 02:53 PM.
Reason: More info
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what is your gas mileage like??
