Reverse lights
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Reverse lights
My reverse lights dont work on my truck since ive bought the thing. I looked uunder the truck and under the cab inside the frame on the drive side there are two wires cut, I connected them but with them connected my truck will not even crank over. Is this a neutral safety switch? If so why would it still not start or were the wires backwards?
I seem to remember someone say the back up lights are tied into the neutral safety switch. But if not how can I fix my reverse lights to work?
I seem to remember someone say the back up lights are tied into the neutral safety switch. But if not how can I fix my reverse lights to work?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
The Backup lamps and the turn signals are powered by the same fuse, so if you have turn signals your fuse is good.
The Reverse lamps are hooked through the netrual safety switch.
Purple/Orange hash wire powers the switch for the backup lamps.
Black/Pink wire goes to the lamps.
Red/Light Blue wire starter circut.
The Reverse lamps are hooked through the netrual safety switch.
Purple/Orange hash wire powers the switch for the backup lamps.
Black/Pink wire goes to the lamps.
Red/Light Blue wire starter circut.
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
ok so maybe i will get back out and try hooking those wires together, if it dont work I will reverse the wires and see what happens this time. Yes my turn signals work so its not the fuse.
Why would the truck not crank over when I had the wires plugged before? Was it because it was backwards or is something ad under there?
Why would the truck not crank over when I had the wires plugged before? Was it because it was backwards or is something ad under there?
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Make sure you look at the colors of the wires. There is no need to guess if the factory wiring is under there. He listed the colors. Do not mess with the red/blue wires, they are the neutral start. Look for the other colors.
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Im not even sure how the neutral start works, my truck is an auto, and if you dont have it in park the key cannot crank over. Im hoping the wires I see are the reverse light wires, they run up on the inside of the frame.
So look for the purple/orange wire.
So look for the purple/orange wire.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
D or 123 or R (basically, anywhere except N).
In general, it's not a very good idea to go connecting wires together *****-nilly without
knowing to what they connect or from what circuit they are a part.
-ct
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
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From: Kuna ID
You might need a new NSS/BU light switch. Since you have a diesel I assume you have the C6. I lost my BU lights for a long time when I had a c6 in my truck. The lights are activated by the NSS on the outside of the tranny. I replaced the switch and my lights started working again. IIRC the switch is $20-$30 and only takes 5 minutes to change. You want to make sure you get the combo NSS/BUL and not just the regular NSS.
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From: Virginia
You should have two red/blue wires down at the switch. These are for the neutral start part of the switch. All the switch does is tie these two red/blue wires together in park and in neutral, so the current flow continues to the starter relay. If you go and look, the starter relay(solenoid) on the inner fender in the engine compartment has a red/blue wire on it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Also look for the Black/Pink wire. The Purple/Orange wire goes to the NSS, and when you have the gear lever in reverse, the NSS passes power from the Purple/Orange wire to the Black/Pink Wire. Connects the two together so the lamps illuminate. Check for power at the NSS with the key in the run position, engine off, with the gear lever in the reverse position. You should have power to both Purple/Orange wires, and Black/Pink wires. If you have power to the purple/orange, and not the black/pink wire, then the switch is bad. Also make sure that the truck cannot start while you are checking it out. Remove the Red/Blue wire from the starter solenoid before testing, as well as the coil wire. Use blocks etc... If power goes through the switch to both wires while the truck is in reverse etc... then the Black/pink wire to the lamps is suspect. Good Luck.
By the way: What are the color of the two wires that were cut that you described in your first post?
By the way: What are the color of the two wires that were cut that you described in your first post?
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
I did some investigating into my back up lights not working and im figuring te NSS is bad because the wire I been talking about is the red/Light Blue so thats the starter wire circuit and they have them wire nutted together so wit will make the complete connection. All the other wires are in good shape and connected, its just the starter wire for the NSS that is cut. I took some pictures so help better understand what I'm talking about.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
I would bet money the NSS is shot. 
Why else would someone direct wire it so that you could start it in gear otherwise?
Oil Fouling of the NSS is a comon problem. May happen to the new one if it's not corrected.
Why else would someone direct wire it so that you could start it in gear otherwise?
Oil Fouling of the NSS is a comon problem. May happen to the new one if it's not corrected.
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Well when I first got my truck the pan for the transmission leaked like a SOB so maybe now I get a new one it wont happen again. Anyone know how hard they are to install?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
What dave said. It's a piece of cake, I had never done one before either and it was really simple. I spent more time deciding how to route the wiring than the actual removal and installation of the switch.