Manually operated backup lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

northerngmc · 04-06-2007, 11:09 PM

I spent the afternoon working on lights on my 69 GMC.

I found a few problems and then I found something interesting.

Both rear backup lights have red wires coming from them and running forward. But my chassis manual says they should be LG (light Green). I have followed the red wire forward and it leads up into the cab and is hooked to a toggle switch on the bottom of the dash. The toggle switch no longer has power running to it though.

I guess someone must have wanted to have control over the backup lights.

Now I will have to try and figure were the wires should go..........

Longhorn Man · 04-06-2007, 11:20 PM

was probably riged due to the column that was in there. I'd just hook it back up personally, I like my toggle controlled b/u lights.

RACINJASON22 · 04-06-2007, 11:22 PM

Sounds like fun, Not

But I do know what it's like chasing down PO's wireing delema's. My own father is a famous one for the toggle switch on the backup lights so-called fix. I guess thats why I like things right but, he did wear off on me some

Good luck with things and hope you don't come upon more wireing problems.

**special-K** · 04-06-2007, 11:25 PM

Beats "the finger" when someone`s beamin`ya with their brights.

PanelDeland · 04-06-2007, 11:28 PM

I wired a beater work truck like that once.The backup lights still worked but I put a switch in to bypass it.Made it a lot easier to hook the trailer up in the dark.

matthufham · 04-07-2007, 03:01 PM

i converted to a floor shift so i never shift from the column now, so the reverse lights wouldn't activate. so i put the lights on a toggle, and mounted it in my floor shifter. it helps at work when i take out the trash in my truck, sometimes it's too dark to see the dumpster, so i can use them as cargo lights.

RANDY COX · 04-07-2007, 07:55 PM

Yea my dad's old GMC backup lights were wired up that way Toggle Switch and someone was behind me with there brights on and was blinding me so I kept on flippin the switch and finally the car went around me and it was a state-Trooper,go figure.

cfoust3 · 04-07-2007, 08:24 PM

The PO of my truck did the same thing, It is actually pretty annoying to me, I actually forget to turn them on or sometimes forget to turn them off. I am going to rewire the whole truck soon and remove the switch.

04-06-2007, 11:09 PM	#1
northerngmc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whitehorse YK Canada Posts: 2,651	Manually operated backup lights I spent the afternoon working on lights on my 69 GMC. I found a few problems and then I found something interesting. Both rear backup lights have red wires coming from them and running forward. But my chassis manual says they should be LG (light Green). I have followed the red wire forward and it leads up into the cab and is hooked to a toggle switch on the bottom of the dash. The toggle switch no longer has power running to it though. I guess someone must have wanted to have control over the backup lights. Now I will have to try and figure were the wires should go.......... __________________ Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is!

04-06-2007, 11:20 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Manually operated backup lights was probably riged due to the column that was in there. I'd just hook it back up personally, I like my toggle controlled b/u lights.

04-06-2007, 11:22 PM	#3
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: Manually operated backup lights Sounds like fun, Not But I do know what it's like chasing down PO's wireing delema's. My own father is a famous one for the toggle switch on the backup lights so-called fix. I guess thats why I like things right but, he did wear off on me some Good luck with things and hope you don't come upon more wireing problems. __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR! Last edited by RACINJASON22; 04-06-2007 at 11:23 PM.

04-06-2007, 11:25 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Manually operated backup lights Beats "the finger" when someone`s beamin`ya with their brights. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

04-06-2007, 11:28 PM	#5
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Manually operated backup lights I wired a beater work truck like that once.The backup lights still worked but I put a switch in to bypass it.Made it a lot easier to hook the trailer up in the dark. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

04-07-2007, 03:01 PM	#6
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Manually operated backup lights i converted to a floor shift so i never shift from the column now, so the reverse lights wouldn't activate. so i put the lights on a toggle, and mounted it in my floor shifter. it helps at work when i take out the trash in my truck, sometimes it's too dark to see the dumpster, so i can use them as cargo lights. Attached Images

04-07-2007, 07:55 PM	#7
RANDY COX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: RADFORD, VA Posts: 2,651	Re: Manually operated backup lights Yea my dad's old GMC backup lights were wired up that way Toggle Switch and someone was behind me with there brights on and was blinding me so I kept on flippin the switch and finally the car went around me and it was a state-Trooper,go figure. __________________ 1964 BBC 402 4x4

04-07-2007, 08:24 PM	#8
cfoust3 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hartford City, Indiana Posts: 54	Re: Manually operated backup lights The PO of my truck did the same thing, It is actually pretty annoying to me, I actually forget to turn them on or sometimes forget to turn them off. I am going to rewire the whole truck soon and remove the switch. __________________ Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packin' right here, all right. We got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30, 11 to 1 pop-up pistons, turbo-jet 390 horsepower. We're talkin' some ****in' muscle. -Wooderson From the movie Dazed and Confused

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