Reverse lights don't work... help!

[Killercanary]

I need to get my car inspected and my reverse lights don't work. I'll be honest and say that they haven't worked for a while, but I just never got around to fixing them. I got under the car last night and checked the contacts on the reverse switch on the tranny itself. In neutral nothing, and in reverse I had a connection so I don't think the problem is there. What else can I check? I doubt its a fuse as nothing else has stopped working.

 

[Bosko5.0]

make sure the bulbs aren't blown.

 

[95strokerPSU]

When my reverse lights didn't work on my 2000 (5 speed) it was the reverse switch on the driver side of the tranny. The ball bearing inside the switch wasn't completing the circuit when the the car was in reverse.

If that's not it, then I'd get the multi-meter and check for voltage through-out reverse wiring.

 

[HISSIN50]

I agree. It sounds like the switch closed and was copacetic.

If so, go back to the trunk and test the wires at the lights to see if the wiring has an open (do this with it in reverse, key on).

 

[Killercanary]

I'm lost guys... I bypassed the switch and "hotwired" the connector and I have lights. I checked the continuity of the switch and when the car is in reverse it acts as though its good (the circuit closes). i tried to run a jumper wire from the connector to the sensor on the trans and another jumper from the sensor back to the connector and it doesn't work. I have no idea how everything checks out yet it doesn't work. If the sensor didn't change when the car is put into reverse I'd say that it was the sensor, but it does. I also know that the wires are not broken anywhere because when i bypass the sensor the lights work. Any ideas???

 

[94-302-vert]

If the sensor is cheap change it out... My truck did the same thing (switch worked with a meter) and the reverse lights didn't. $9 later and they worked. This was on my 03 dakota...

 

[chaos254]

I agree...if you bypass the switch and it works and all the wiring checks out, definitely replace the switch.

 

[Killercanary]

I just got done pulling the switch out and cleaning up the contacts with a wire brush and it seems to have fixed the problem, I also tightened it up a good bit when I re-installed it. I'm thinking the switch wasn't making full contact with the arm inside the tranny that pushes on the ball of the sensor. This problem started after I had the inner tranny speedomete gear replaced, so I'm wondering if they just didn't tighten this up enough??? I'm at a loss but at least they work now!

 

[Chythar]

Every time I take an electrical connector apart on my Stang, I spray electrical contact cleaner all over both sides. Most contacts are made of aluminum, and aluminum oxidizes really quick. And oxidized parts don't conduct electricity well. A good spray with contact cleaner converts the oxidation back into a conducting material and the connection works again.

A wire brush works too, but that removes a bit of metal and is more work.

 

[Killercanary]

Well.... it still doesn't work. It worked when I left my house but when I got to the inspection station they no longer worked. I'll be ordering a new sensor on monday and hope it fixes it.