on my 1970 f-100 step sides, the reverse lights dont work. there is no wire left except that coming fromt he tail lamp assemblies and about two fee under the bed. where does this wire go? and how can i get these lights working again soon?

 

Some Fords were different, but if you have an automatic, there may be a plastic switch mounted on the side of the tranny right where the lever comes out of the side. In fact, you usually have to take some of the linakge off to get the switch out. This switch had the neutral safety switch and the back-up lights in it, though some switches only had the neutral safety feature(two wires only). Another place to look is on the column. Your truck is older and I am not familiar with that particular year.

If it's a manual, it still could be underneath the truck, somewhere near the shifter mechanism and linkage.

 

thanks, ill be checking that out tomorrow...

 

well, its not on the tranny, and nowhere to be found on the underside of the truck.. my next guess is in the column right? i dont have any wires in the column that i can see or get too. it is a 3spd manual...

 

ive had no luck with the lights. the brake lights done work either, at the switch under the pedal, theres only 1.3v. someone told me it may be a bad turn signal switch for that.. but i dont understand how it could be. i know that the brake lights use the same bulbs as the turn flashers.. but the flashers work fine. the only problem witht he hazards is they dont come on unless the turn signal switch is set to one side or the other. as for the reverse lights.. the wire comes back into the dash through the firewall. i havent taken the steering wheel off or dissasembled the column.. but could this reverse light switch be in the column? on the tranny the only wire or spot for a wire is not a wire, but the speedometer cable.

 

I just went to www.partsamerica.com and looked up your truck. I said it was an 1970 f100 with a 302.

I went to replacement parts and selected switches. They have a selection of neutral safety/back-up switches. It seems you could have most anything depending on what tranny you have.

The 4 speed switch is the type that screws into the tranny, and a shifter rail probably bumps against the little ball on the end.

The automatic switch does look like it fits on the steering column.

I cannot figure out the 3 speed switch. It almost looks like a **** you pull out that mounts in the dash. Is that right?

 

ive been looking at the schematics.. and yes it very well could be, ill save tearing open the dash for another day. thank you very much for the help.

also i looked up the vin number, the tranny id the rear ed id and the engine id.. it would seem the tranny is the only original part. the rear end is a dana 70, the engine in the truck was supposed ot be a 240, not a 300.. sheesh you learn somehting new everyday.
thanks boss, ill update tomorrow mostlikely

 

i did pretty much the same as you slinkey. started out on the ground looking around on an fmx tranny for electrical connections, and then by the transmission lever below the master cylinder.
it does mount right on the outside of the steering column. you should not have to remove anything to see it although a flashlight might help if your not out in the sunlight. look along the length of the column. i would say its closer to the dash end than the firewall end of it.
as far as the brake lights, mine's a 68 not a 70 but the switch is on the brake pedal lever near the pivot. it has two jam nuts that have to be adjusted so it's at the right depth.
the fault could be anywhere along the wires all the way to the fusebox, but once you see which ones to look at you can find the problem. if you replace bad fuses and they blow right away that means there's a short circuit.