Back up lights?
New User
Joined: Oct 2007
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I'm having similar problem on my '77 w/Auto trans. I stood behind truck while someone else shifted it into reverse and noticed that they did come on for just an instant when going through the gears. Figured out they will come on if you hold gearshift in just the right position, but it wont stay stay there normally. I guess there is really too much play or slop between shift detents on column selector. I don't know if that can be adjusted or tightened up.
Is yours Auto or manual?
Is yours Auto or manual?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
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From: Mountville PA
mr green jeans yours sounds like a alignment issue check on the side of the trans for the neutral safty switch its on the gear selector going into the side of the tranny put the tranny in neutral and find a small little hole loosen the screws and turn till you can get a #43 drill bit to slide through then tighten down at some point they changed the switch location not sure when I think it was 75 and older its on the top of steering column and 76 and newer its on the trans. Dspeer75 if you have a auto same deal or it may not be working at all or if its a manual the switch is in the side of the top plate on the tranny were the gear shift goes on those are either good or bad no adjustment.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Nuevo Laredo/Laredo Tx.
I have the same problem on my '77 F-150 Supercab there's a switch in the base of the steering column that make the backup lights go on when you shift to Reverse (TRANS NEUTRAL SWITCH) also another function of that switch is to cut power to the truck when is not on Parking or Neutral, the problem that I have is that there's a piece of metal attached to the shift tube which is inside the column that's broken so it doesnt activate the switch when i shift to reverse so my backup lights wont turn on, also i can start the truck in any gear, P R N D 2 1, i havent figured out yet how to solve this problem may be is the same problem that you have.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
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From: Mountville PA
allright now we know when the switch was 77 and older on the column and 78 and newer is on the trans both still align the same way with the #43 drill bit mexican77 your going to have to get a column to switch out or to take the part out of in the meantime the connector the nuetral safty switch is on is the same as a flat 4 wire trailer connector get one of them and loop the red with black stripe over to the other one to connect the circuit then you will be able to start your truck but it will be in any gear and if you want the reverse lights just hook the through a toggle switch I had to do this for my 72 when I got it because the switch was broke off and I couldn't find one right away but atleast you can get it to work. The reverse light wires will be Black with a red stripe
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
1973/77: The NSS is on the bottom of the steering column.
1978/79: The NSS is on the transmission.
-----------------------------------------
You need the following:
DOTZ7B097B .. NSS Selector Lever / Obsolete
Fits: 1965/77 F100/350.
This is the (inverted Y shaped) spring steel lever used with the NSS.
It snaps onto the shift tube through a hole in the mast jacket, at the bottom of the steering column, adjacent to the NSS.
Either the tip of this lever has snapped off (very common), or the lever has popped out of the tube (common).
Ford just obsoleted this part, but there are a bunch of these still available at Ford dealers and obsolete parts vendors:
PARTS INTERNATIONAL in Farmers Branch TX has 18 = 888-727-0418.
ARROW FORD in Abilene TX has 2.
LONGHORN FORD in Mineola TX has 2 = 903-266-7736.
JACK MORRIS FORD in Plainview TX has 1.
GULLO FORD-MERCURY in Conroe TX has 1 = 936-443-4511.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 17 = 800-543-2959.
1978/79: The NSS is on the transmission.
-----------------------------------------
Originally Posted by Mexican77
The problem that I have is there's a piece of metal (NSS Selector Lever) that's attached to the shift tube inside the column that's broken....
DOTZ7B097B .. NSS Selector Lever / Obsolete
Fits: 1965/77 F100/350.
This is the (inverted Y shaped) spring steel lever used with the NSS.
It snaps onto the shift tube through a hole in the mast jacket, at the bottom of the steering column, adjacent to the NSS.
Either the tip of this lever has snapped off (very common), or the lever has popped out of the tube (common).
Ford just obsoleted this part, but there are a bunch of these still available at Ford dealers and obsolete parts vendors:
PARTS INTERNATIONAL in Farmers Branch TX has 18 = 888-727-0418.
ARROW FORD in Abilene TX has 2.
LONGHORN FORD in Mineola TX has 2 = 903-266-7736.
JACK MORRIS FORD in Plainview TX has 1.
GULLO FORD-MERCURY in Conroe TX has 1 = 936-443-4511.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 17 = 800-543-2959.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 24
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From: Duncan NC
mr green jeans yours sounds like a alignment issue check on the side of the trans for the neutral safty switch its on the gear selector going into the side of the tranny put the tranny in neutral and find a small little hole loosen the screws and turn till you can get a #43 drill bit to slide through then tighten down at some point they changed the switch location not sure when I think it was 75 and older its on the top of steering column and 76 and newer its on the trans. Dspeer75 if you have a auto same deal or it may not be working at all or if its a manual the switch is in the side of the top plate on the tranny were the gear shift goes on those are either good or bad no adjustment.
Mine is a manual 3 on the floor.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
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From: Mountville PA
not sure were your switch will be what I said was for the 4 speeds I'll see if Ihave any info on the 3 speeds maybe some one will chime in on were it is.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
No such thing as original.
The last Ford truck w/a 3 speed manual with a floor shifter was in 1952.
You sure it's a 3 speed manual? Some 1978/79 F100/150's have the Ford RUG TS-OD 4 speed single rail O/D manual trans.
The TS-OD's backup light switch is mounted on the shift lever.
The 3 speed manual's backup light switch (C9TZ15520F Motorcraft SW938) is mounted on a bracket on the steering column, under the hood...adjacent to the first/reverse manual control lever.
If a previous owner installed a floor shifter, I have no clue where the backup light switch is...now.
The New Process 435 4 speed & Warner T-18 & T19 4 speed backup light switch threads into the shift tower.
The last Ford truck w/a 3 speed manual with a floor shifter was in 1952.
You sure it's a 3 speed manual? Some 1978/79 F100/150's have the Ford RUG TS-OD 4 speed single rail O/D manual trans.
The TS-OD's backup light switch is mounted on the shift lever.
The 3 speed manual's backup light switch (C9TZ15520F Motorcraft SW938) is mounted on a bracket on the steering column, under the hood...adjacent to the first/reverse manual control lever.
If a previous owner installed a floor shifter, I have no clue where the backup light switch is...now.
The New Process 435 4 speed & Warner T-18 & T19 4 speed backup light switch threads into the shift tower.
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