Back-up lights staying on in drive

[VAL]

Well, I got pulled over by the HP, turns out I was driving down the freeway, and my back-up lights were on. I put the truck in park, and they were still on. I got 5 days to fix it. If anybody can point me in the right direction as to where to start looking for a solution, would be greatly appreciated, because I have no Idea why the lights are staying on.

 

[Jims86]

Well, I got pulled over by the HP, turns out I was driving down the freeway, and my back-up lights were on. I put the truck in park, and they were still on. I got 5 days to fix it. If anybody can point me in the right direction as to where to start looking for a solution, would be greatly appreciated, because I have no Idea why the lights are staying on.

Down at the bottom of the steering column, is a half moon shaped switch, perched on top of the steering tube. Thats the reverse light/ neutral safety switch. chck that out. you can even take it apart and clean it. sometimes granulated metal wear causes tracing, and completes the circuite, aven if its supposed to be open.

 

[89Suburban]

^^^THIS

Also could just need adjusted.

 

[Boone83K10]

You didn't say if this was during the day or night.

Check the NSS like mentioned above. Check your TURN/BU fuse or even the directional flasher on the bottom right of the fuse panel.

I ask about if day or night. Are they on during the daytime when you do not have your lights on. If they are only on when you pull the lights on.. then I would look towards your running lights crossing over with the B/U lights.

It could be in the wiring going to the back of the truck. Mine got melted together and would come on when I would press the brakes. Check the wiring from the firewall all the way back to the rear harness plug located behind the bumper in the center. you can even test the plug with a test light. LT GREEN is reverse lights, BROWN is running lights, DK GREEN is directional/brake RIGHT and YELLOW is directional/brake LEFT.

 

[VAL]

Been trying to figure this out with no luck. I checked the parts on the column, all the fuses, etc. Someone told me to look on the tranny itself for the neutral safety switch. I have a 700r4.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

The Neutral switch is on the column like Jim said.

 

[HotRodPC]

^^^THIS

Also could just need adjusted.

I know you be the steering column expert, BUT, I'd say it's not out of adjustment. The adjustment is usually set for P and N to start and then R just falls into place. If they're on in all gear selections, he's got some jumpered contacts most likely.


Worse case scenario, to get your Mechanical Failure ticket signed off, take the back up light bulbs out. Unless your state is real jackasses, bu lights are not required. I only suggest this for if you run out of time. Just don't do some redneck thing like put the bu lights on a toggle switch. I'd fix it right if it were me, even if I had to use a used switch off of another column.

 

[HotRodPC]

Been trying to figure this out with no luck. I checked the parts on the column, all the fuses, etc. Someone told me to look on the tranny itself for the neutral safety switch. I have a 700r4.

Some 4L60-E's have that switch on the trans itself, but squares in all years have it on the column itself under the dash. It's closer to the firewall than it is the dashboard IIRC. As Jim said, it's shaped like a half moon, on the top of the column and will have several wires plugged into it. Only colors I've seen them in is White, but after years and fading they turn yellowish. The Park Neutral start and back uip lights are built into this switch.

 

[77 K20]

I'd just buy another neutral safety switch and put it in. They are not that expensive... just looked them up on the O'reilly website and they have 2 of them. One is $16.99 and the other is $17.99. Both are a good brand- AC Delco for one and BWD (borg warner) for the other one.

I have seen them also where the metal from the contacts then gets "smeared" all over around in there shorting it out.

 

[jux]

Just don't do some redneck thing like put the bu lights on a toggle switch. I'd fix it right if it were me, even if I had to use a used switch off of another column.

Hey, whats wrong with having a backup light toggle switch???

My 3 on the tree came with one, I suppose it is not factory.

 

[Jims86]

I'd just buy another neutral safety switch and put it in. They are not that expensive... just looked them up on the O'reilly website and they have 2 of them. One is $16.99 and the other is $17.99. Both are a good brand- AC Delco for one and BWD (borg warner) for the other one.

I have seen them also where the metal from the contacts then gets "smeared" all over around in there shorting it

Yup, the lubrication they use in these switches, and sometime the lithium grease that people shoot in there, just makes it worse.

 

[HotRodPC]

Hey, whats wrong with having a backup light toggle switch???

My 3 on the tree came with one, I suppose it is not factory.

Not a thing wrong with it if you're a redneck. My 64 GMC didn't even come with back up lights, but I installed some and wired them to work on both the B&M Quicksilver ratchet shifter and the Muncie 4 speeds with Hurst Comp Plus shifters.

 

[chengny]

This doesn't exactly address your issue but you can probably use some of it.


I am guessing that since you can get the lights to come on, by lifting up on the gear shift lever, that you have a neutral safety/back-up light switch. It should be column mounted and right up against the firewall. Correct?


At one point a few years ago I was having the same trouble as you. It was not really an issue - until you have to keep upward pressure on the shift lever while trying to back down a steep dark driveway in the middle of the woods.

So I decided to at least look at the switch. Often that's as far as I get.


This time however, I fixed it. Took about 2 minutes and zero dollars.

While I was poking at one side with my finger, the whole switch made a ratcheting sound and rotated around the steering column. Seems that the plastic housing (switch open/close point) is infinitely adjustable.

It might take awhile to figure out but basically put your gear shift in R and then (with the key on) have someone watch the back-up lights. Push the switch one way or the other - I forget - until the back-ups come on.

Here are a couple of real bad images I just took - I am reassembling my steering wheel/horn button so I was in the area. My finger tip is pushing on the RH (passenger) side in one of the photos:

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7817