Backup Lights not working

[Ramiro0727]

Hello,

My backup lights aren't working on my 69 Chevy C10. I check the safety neutral switch with a test light with the key in the on position. I checked one of the terminal and there was power. I shifted the gear shifter to Reverse and the other terminal got power. Both terminals showed power with the test light. I went to the backup light socket and I show voltage with the test light. I installed a few new 1156 bulbs and the bulb does not light up. What can I do to make the backup lights turn on. Also I move the gear shifter to Drive and I have no power to the backup light. So I'm assuming the Neutral safety switch is set correctly.

Thanks,
Ramiro

[Toms67]

Could it be a bad ground? Try A ground to the housing of the Bulb.

[Ramiro0727]

Originally Posted by Toms67

Could it be a bad ground? Try A ground to the housing of the Bulb.

Thanks Tom, I will give that a try.

Ramiro

[midniteblues]

Since the back up housings are grounded too the inner part of the bed sides you might want too pull them out and clean them up a little.
Plus there should be a bed too frame ground strap in the back near the rear light harness connector.

Also the lite sockets themselves can become corroded and the little spring contacts fail too conduct.

If everything is intact you just might need too clean the grounds up.

[randy500]

Quick test for ground at the light housing is to use a jumper wire from clean frame ground to brass part of bulb while its installed and the housing has voltage to it (key on and in reverse), should light up if its a bad light housing ground, if it doesn't light up then the problem is the housing, probably the spring behind the center light contact pin.

[Ramiro0727]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

Since the back up housings are grounded too the inner part of the bed sides you might want too pull them out and clean them up a little.
Plus there should be a bed too frame ground strap in the back near the rear light harness connector.

Also the lite sockets themselves can become corroded and the little spring contacts fail too conduct.

If everything is intact you just might need too clean the grounds up.

Thanks midniteblues I will try that also.

Ramiro

[Ramiro0727]

Originally Posted by randy500

Quick test for ground at the light housing is to use a jumper wire from clean frame ground to brass part of bulb while its installed and the housing has voltage to it (key on and in reverse), should light up if its a bad light housing ground, if it doesn't light up then the problem is the housing, probably the spring behind the center light contact pin.

Thanks Randy500. I will try that as well. Hopefully I can get it going. I replaced all the wiring from front to back and the backup lights is the only thing that didn't work.

Ramiro

[randy500]

And to correct the ground strap question, there is no factory ground strap from the bed to the frame. The bed is grounded through the 8 attachment bolts to the frame, this can be a problem with restored or older trucks from bad contact either from paint, frame coatings or corrosion.

[Ramiro0727]

Well I got the backup lights working. The Drivers side backup light it was a bad ground from the housing to the bed and the passenger side backup light it was a loose bulb. Thank you all who chimed in to help me get them working.

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by randy500

And to correct the ground strap question, there is no factory ground strap from the bed to the frame. The bed is grounded through the 8 attachment bolts to the frame, this can be a problem with restored or older trucks from bad contact either from paint, frame coatings or corrosion.

We'll it's a good idea too add one anyway,I mustve been thinking later models.

Open glad too hear you got them working.
Sometimes the easy stuff has you pulling your hair out.

I fought the back ups lites with my old one ton stepper till I figured out the switch in the sm465 was bad.

[Ramiro0727]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

We'll it's a good idea too add one anyway,I mustve been thinking later models.

Open glad too hear you got them working.
Sometimes the easy stuff has you pulling your hair out.

I fought the back ups lites with my old one ton stepper till I figured out the switch in the sm465 was bad.

midniteblues yes I will be adding another ground towards the back end of the bed and frame. you could never have too many grounds.