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Reverse lights

Old Jun 22, 2024 | 03:11 PM
  #1  
mayfid's Avatar
mayfid
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Reverse lights

I've got an 83 351w, with 4 speed manual. However, that's inconsequential. I've got 10 volts at the driver reverse light and none at the passenger. Haven't found the issue yet, but my question is, is 10 volts enough for these older broncos?
 
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Old Jul 25, 2024 | 09:32 PM
  #2  
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trassier
4wd Low
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From: Florida
No. 10 volts is not good, unless your battery is dead on only sending out 10 volts. You should have fully battery voltage at the reverse lights. Here are some tips.
  • Disconnect both reverses lightbulbs
  • With the key on and the transmission in reverse, unplug the reverse light wire harness from the transmission and check for 12 volts on one of the wires.
  • Using an ohm meter, check the pins on the transmission switch are closed there is low or no resistance
  • Plug in the wire harness and check for 12v on the output wire.
  • Check that you have 12v at each of the reverse light sockets, with no bulb installed.
  • Check that the reverse lights have good ground.
    • if one or both have a poor ground the circuit will seek out a ground through the other light bulb filaments. This will cause a low voltage and dim light.
  • If you have 12 volts at the output of the connector, but low voltage at the light socket you will need to trace the wire through the wire harness to find the fault. A small nick in the wire 10 years ago could have manifested into a coroded wire with a very high resistance.
  • If you have 12 volts on a meter with no light bulb installed, but it drops to 10 volts and is dim with light bulbs installed, this too indicates a high resistance wire, corrosion, or loose or bad ground.
Good luck, I hope this gets you started!
 
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