Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Ok here's a good one.

The electrics on my truck are ok but there's a lot of little things that don't work on it so I've been attacking them one at a time.

Today I went after the passenger side reverse light. Drivers side works fine. After about an hour of trouble shooting, I figured that the bulb wasn't grounding.

Cleaned the bulb socket... nope that's not it.
Cleaned the where the screws contact the housing.. nope that's not it.
Took the housing out and cleaned the area of the housing that contacts the fender and the matching area on the fender... nope still no ground.

More poking around with the MultiMeter and I figured out the problem. The socket must be crimped or swedged or pressed into the housing. For some reason there was no electrical contact between the housing and the socket. :confused:

The fix: Since the housing and the socket couldn't be separated I cleaned up an area on both pieces, grabbed a scrap of 10 ga wire I had around, and soldered a "jumper" between the two pieces.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

I had the exact same problem and I fixed it the same way. Damn near gave me an aneurism trying to figure it out...

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Good catch.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Had the same problem but just soldered the socket to housing

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Thought about doing that but I figure that the jumper would make better contact.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

thanks for the info. I am tackling this now.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

That's one of the reasons I posted it.

I've got so much help here from other users... I feel the need to pay some of it back as it were. ;)

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

when I removed the lenses to start my diagnosis I found the PO had not installed the bulbs. After further review I found that the wiring was not ther. I have ordered new cups, bulbs and a rear wiring harnees. After installing that I still need to find out if it works and if not, why.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

POs... what were they thinking. I thought my tail lights looked a little dim and kinda off color. I know the lenses were sun damaged some so I just chalked it up to that. Got some new lenses and when I pulled the old ones off, I found that he had put amber 1157 bulbs in them. At the other end of the truck he had swapped the turn signal lenses side for side..

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

I'm new to this site, had the same problem, fixed it the same way just today. thanks it helped me,and save a few hours of chasin' wires.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Back-up Light? Are those supposed to work?

Did the 4spd trucks have this feature?

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Glad to be of service!

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

I would imagine so!

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

One day i wanted to see why my back up lights didn't work,found that the switch was gone.So call Classic Muscle in Winston Salem N.C. & they had a switch.Got home & put it in,then the fuse blown.Then i know i had a short in it some where & this is what i found.This is why you check everything.Hope this helps

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

The switch for the grandma 4 spd, is on the trans.,driver side, on top. The trans operates it. Been awhile since I've been under there.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

have 72 chevy step side. been chasing wires and grounds. I put the blinker to the left works dim put license plate light blinks and the right marker likes blink.
turn on lights brake lights don't go on. its driving me crazy. I've checked fuses they look good replaced anyway.
Any suggestions, thanks.
Roberto

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Hmmm. Is it the front or rear side marker that flashes? Assuming that it's the front, if you go right on the lever, does the left side marker flash?

Pull the bulb out of the license plate light and see what happens.

Do you have a multi meter to check the wiring?

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

left signal turned, side markers go on leftside real strong and faint on right side.
pulled lic. bulb no difference.
yes have a meter.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

It's gotta be a short or a ground. The left side should not be contact with the right side and neither should be in contact with the license light.

Trace it out using the meter set on ohms or a sounder if the meter has one. The circuit from the left side, the right side and the license should be separate and show open on the ohms. make sure you pull the fuses for the circuits you're working on.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Here's a wiring diagram posted on another thread http://outintheshop.com/faq/wiring/wiring.htm

With it backing into the license plate light, I might want to disconnect it at the plug that's shown.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

My first guess would be a ground problem.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

ok you are right, ground or short.
i will check with meter, using ohms when open will meter register.(digital)

I've checked grounds on engin to firewall. cleaned and reattached
cab to frame. cleaned and reattached.
I don't have one on box to frame. what do you think should I do that.

I've checked for shorts physically.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

Make yourself a jumper from a length of wire and two alligator clips and attach one end to ground on the light and the other to a know good ground. if that fixes your problem then look at how the grounding between the bed and chassis.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

just got home will try later thanks for your help.

Re: Fixing Reverse Lights... Gotta Check Everything!
 

I have the same problem (and know its a ground issue). I just haven't gotten around to fixing it. Heck, I have 2 reverse light. The second one is just a back up, right (no pun intended :) )