Back up lights wont work!
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
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Back up lights wont work!
I cant get any power to the reverse lights on my '69 F-100 Ranger. My question is, where is the switch that activates the reverse lights. It has a C6 trans, but no wires or switch for back ups on the trans.
Thanks,
Randy
Thanks,
Randy
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Joined: Feb 2000
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Back up lights wont work!
Randy
If your truck is like my '71, down at the base of the column you have a combination neutural safety switch/ back-up light switch. It is a little black plastic & metal looking switch with 4 wires going to it. Two are for the start side & two are for the back-up lamps. This switch is either out of adjustment or regretably needs to be replaced. Before I condemn the switch I usually jump the b/up light wires together to test the circut, then try to adjust it. It is not to hard to adjust (but it helps to limber up first)
HTH
Dex.
If your truck is like my '71, down at the base of the column you have a combination neutural safety switch/ back-up light switch. It is a little black plastic & metal looking switch with 4 wires going to it. Two are for the start side & two are for the back-up lamps. This switch is either out of adjustment or regretably needs to be replaced. Before I condemn the switch I usually jump the b/up light wires together to test the circut, then try to adjust it. It is not to hard to adjust (but it helps to limber up first)
HTH
Dex.
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Back up lights wont work!
I looked for the switch you spoke of in the last post. I looked all over the steering column and could not find any kind of switch that looked like the one you described. the Only one I found was the brake switch. I'm going back out to the shop and look some more in case I overlooked it.
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Back up lights wont work!
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Mar-01 AT 10:11 PM (EST)[/font][p]It's down on the base right near the floor but on top of the column. Look way under there, you'll see it. There is alittle metal finger that comes off of the shift tube and slides the switch as you move the lever.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Back up lights wont work!
Randy, The ones that I have seen are about 8in. off the floor, on the top side of the column and it looks like a shift selector. When you determine which wire goes to the tail light housing, you should find a connecting under the dash, unplug it and test it there with the selector in reverse. If it is hot there then the problem is further down the line, if not it's the switch.
Happy hunting. ;-)
John
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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
Happy hunting. ;-)
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
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Back up lights wont work!
Well I found out why I have no back up lights. Theres no switch on it at all! I called the preveous owner to ask if he knew why the switch was removed. The truck originally had a three speed tranny with three on the tree and the 360 motor and 3 spd was swapped for a 351c/c6. he also swapped the original 3 spd steering column for one with auto shift and the dumb a$$ didn't insall the reverse/neutral switch!!! 
I hate it when someone does a half a$$ job at something. Now I have to figue out where the original reverse wires are and get a reverse switch and make something work 
Any more help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Guys,
Randy
I hate it when someone does a half a$$ job at something. Now I have to figue out where the original reverse wires are and get a reverse switch and make something work Any more help will be greatly appreciated.Thanks Guys,
Randy
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Back up lights wont work!
The backup light switch is on the steering column under the master cylinder. It is a 2 wire plug. I'm sure you will find it there.I have 4 of these trucks and thats where all of mine are. Hope you find it.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Back up lights wont work!
Mandel, you have me confused a little bit on the switch. Before you reply would you go to your truck(s)unplug the switch that you refer to, place your gear selector in reverse, pull on the light switch, and turn the ign. switch to the on position, and then reply back here wheather the back up lights came on.
Thank you.
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
Thank you.
John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group
66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.
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Senior User
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Back up lights wont work!
On the three speed column, is the reverse switch in the same place as the automatic column? I found were the wires from the back up lights come up to the the firewall under the hood (black wire with red stripe)but found no plug for the reverse switch under the dash for the reverse switch on a three speed column.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Back up lights wont work!
Sorry man I forgot to tell you,mine were 3spds. No, they are not in the same place. The 3spds are under the hood on the end of the steering column. Tha autos are at the base of the column under the dash. Do you have the automatic column or the 3spd column? You can put a switch on your trans fairly easily. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Back up lights wont work!
I converted a truck from 3 on the tree to C6 automatic. The original switch for backup lights was a plunger switch in the vicinity of the top of the steering gear. The linkage that went to activate Reverse on the tranny, would depress the plunger when you had the truck in reverse gear. There were two wires going to the switch. One was connected to power, the other to the backup lights. Press the plunger and lights come on. I ended up wireing in the neutral safety switch on the new steering column I got when I put automatic in. BTW, on floor shifted models..... I have a T18 in one truck, the switch is on the top drivers side of the tranny case just under panel. And on the 4spOD in my 79, there is a similar plunger switch (if not the same part) that is located behind shifter linkages behind the Reverse linkage. That had gone bad on my 79 and when I replaced the switch I got backup lights back.
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