Backup lights

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87silveradok20

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I have no backup lights on my truck. I never have for as long as I can remember. All of the other lights work fine. I’ve tried adjusting the white thingy at the base of the column and I couldn’t get anything. Any more ideas? Bulbs are good


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Honky Kong jr

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I have no backup lights on my truck. I never have for as long as I can remember. All of the other lights work fine. I’ve tried adjusting the white thingy at the base of the column and I couldn’t get anything. Any more ideas? Bulbs are good


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Did you jump the wires together at the white thingy?
 

Honky Kong jr

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I have lights when I do that so I’m assuming that means my white thingy doesn’t work?


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Yup you need a white thingy and a big block lol
 

Slugnutty

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My 84 has the SM 4 speed trans, and there is a plunger which slides horizontally when the shift lever is in reverse..
The switch is so old and there is SO MUCH gunk in there that I need to wait a full 5 min for the plunger to slide sideways to make the connection to turn the lights on....

Your's MAY BE working also, and in the same condition as mine.
I just buy passed the trans switch and put a level switch on the trans hump that pushes the switch arm when in reverse.
(I also could have just put a switch on the dash also.)
 

87silveradok20

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Levi
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My 84 has the SM 4 speed trans, and there is a plunger which slides horizontally when the shift lever is in reverse..
The switch is so old and there is SO MUCH gunk in there that I need to wait a full 5 min for the plunger to slide sideways to make the connection to turn the lights on....

Your's MAY BE working also, and in the same condition as mine.
I just buy passed the trans switch and put a level switch on the trans hump that pushes the switch arm when in reverse.
(I also could have just put a switch on the dash also.)
My switch was bad. I replaced it and adjusted the new one and now they work perfectly.
 

Slugnutty

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My switch was bad. I replaced it and adjusted the new one and now they work perfectly.


How hard was it?
I've poked around looking for a replacement sw, but my Red Green goober fix is working, but replacing it correctly on the heap may be in the cards for 2018
 

chengny

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How hard was it?
I've poked around looking for a replacement sw, but my Red Green goober fix is working, but replacing it correctly on the heap may be in the cards for 2018

If you can get the backup lights to work by applying upward/downward pressure on the shift lever (while it's in R), you might want to try this before buying a new switch. It might work and that switch is kind of a PITA to change:

Once, while I was poking at one side of the switch with my finger, the entire assembly made a ratcheting sound and rotated around the steering column. Seems that the plastic housing (which sets the open/close point for the contacts within) is infinitely adjustable.

It might take a few minutes to dial it in, but it is time well spent. Basically, the procedure goes like this: 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.

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