Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Reverse Lights Not Working

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 11, 2026 | 07:35 PM
  #1  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Reverse Lights Not Working

Hi everyone,

I inherited a 1985 f150 4 speed manual. The reverse lights aren’t working. I believe it has a Borg Warner T18 in it.

i took the shifter boot off and the switch looks like the one found here:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/backup-light-switch-f-100/p/HW1880/?year=1973&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17347840277

I’ll attach a picture. I don’t see any connector plugged in. I am under the impression that I need to buy something like in the link above. I’m unsure what I plug the pigtail connections into. I also found this unplugged underneath the truck.

thank you ford fans! Nice to meet you all
Connector found underneath truck
Connector found underneath truck
Reverse switch
Reverse switch


 

Last edited by 19bulln0se85; May 12, 2026 at 06:59 AM.
Reply
Old May 11, 2026 | 11:50 PM
  #2  
BigBlue2's Avatar
BigBlue2
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 1,243
First thing to check is the reverse bulbs and sockets. The switches are pretty tough. I can't help on the connector. On my T19 it screws in somewhere on the tranny on the top side maybe? And there is a wire and connector for the switch. If it doesn't fit your switch then keep looking.
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 06:58 AM
  #3  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Thanks. I should have mentioned that my tail lights work. Both reverse lights do not. The bulbs are good
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 08:02 AM
  #4  
Max Capacity's Avatar
Max Capacity
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Community Influencer
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,667
Likes: 1,159
From: Tolland, CT
https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1985-evtm.html


Youc an find the wiring there.
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 08:35 AM
  #5  
kr98664's Avatar
kr98664
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,173
Likes: 1,173
Here's a purloined image from eBay showing the location of the reverse light switch on a T-18. This is the same arrangement as the T-18 on my '84 F250:

Red switch connector at the lower left corner of this stolen image
Red switch connector at the lower left corner of this stolen image

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336532750934


Courtesy of RockAuto, here an end view of the 2-pin connector:



More pics here:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...mp+switch,4240

Does your switch look like that?

Not sure about that round connector you found. Are you positive you have a T-18? Look at the certification label on the driver's door jamb for a transmission code. Post that and we can help determine what you have.






 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 09:19 AM
  #6  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Yes the switch looks like that. It’s oval shaped. I’m not entirely sure it’s a T18. The door jam says T19 but it doesn’t have the original transmission in it. It’s hard to downshift to 1st (unsynchronized) which made me think it was the T18
 

Last edited by 19bulln0se85; May 12, 2026 at 09:23 AM.
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 10:20 AM
  #7  
kr98664's Avatar
kr98664
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,173
Likes: 1,173
Originally Posted by 19bulln0se85
Yes the switch looks like that. It’s oval shaped. I’m not entirely sure it’s a T18...
Okay, we are making some progress. If the switch has the oval 2-pin connector as shown above, the exact transmission model does not matter.

Even if the transmission has been changed, the original was a T19 so that would have had the same oval connector. Not sure what to tell you about why the corresponding harness connection is not nearby, or what that round connector is.
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 10:24 AM
  #8  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by kr98664
Okay, we are making some progress. If the switch has the oval 2-pin connector as shown above, the exact transmission model does not matter.

Even if the transmission has been changed, the original was a T19 so that would have had the same oval connector. Not sure what to tell you about why the corresponding harness connection is not nearby, or what that round connector is.
thanks for the help!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 12, 2026 | 01:56 PM
  #9  
BigBlue2's Avatar
BigBlue2
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 1,243
Did you pull the reverse light bulbs and clean the socket and connector and verify the bulbs are good by applying 12v? Also check the wiring in the vicinity and check that grounds are good.
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:02 PM
  #10  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BigBlue2
Did you pull the reverse light bulbs and clean the socket and connector and verify the bulbs are good by applying 12v? Also check the wiring in the vicinity and check that grounds are good.
yes, I cleaned the socket and verified the bulbs were good. I can check the wiring in the vicinity and the grounds.

My understanding is that the connector that plugs into the reverse switch is missing and the pig tails would need to get spliced into the back-up light wiring any way. Thank you!
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:23 PM
  #11  
BigBlue2's Avatar
BigBlue2
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 1,243
Keep looking around for the wire and plug. If someone swapped the transmission they unplugged the wire and hopefully wrapped it up and around something close by.
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:28 PM
  #12  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Will do! Part of me is wondering if the connector from my first post is the one that plugged into the reverse switch on the original transmission and the back up lights have never worked since the new one was added
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:38 PM
  #13  
BigBlue2's Avatar
BigBlue2
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 1,243
You can apply 12v to the connector and see if the reverse bulbs light. Then if they do replace the connector with the one you need. Or innovate and run wire to a toggle switch in the cab. Who needs to wear out bulbs everytime you hit reverse?
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:40 PM
  #14  
19bulln0se85's Avatar
19bulln0se85
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Liked
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BigBlue2
You can apply 12v to the connector and see if the reverse bulbs light. Then if they do replace the connector with the one you need. Or innovate and run wire to a toggle switch in the cab. Who needs to wear out bulbs everytime you hit reverse?
I’ll give that a crack later when I am home. This peanut head would forget to toggle the switch off haha
 
Reply
Old May 12, 2026 | 02:50 PM
  #15  
BigBlue2's Avatar
BigBlue2
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 1,243
Maybe the reverse lights only work with the headlights on? If so turn on the headlights and one side of the connector has 12v. Then jump across and check the reverse lights.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:21 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE