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

jayrau · 12-05-2003, 08:23 PM

my backup lights on my '72 don't work. is replacing the switch, wherever that is, fairly simple to do? Anyone ever take steps to get their backup lights working, care to share?

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 08:33 PM

i have been over the hill and thru the woods to get mine to work

the switch is at the bottom of the steering collium next to the fire wall.....it's a combo neutral safety switch,,,,and reverse light switch....held by two screws...in the back that you might not be able to see...do it by feel......
make sure you get the notch lined up with the tab on the collium...
i did all that and still did not work....
all tho the switch was broken...come to find out the power wire going to the reverse lights had none....ran a wire from the fuse box to the switch....working great now.....
mark

skokie · 12-05-2003, 08:39 PM

Rage'nrat638 heres one for you. I have no wires that I can see that hooks up to my backup light switch on my 68. Can you describe what the piece that connects to the backup light switch looks like?

Thanks

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 08:47 PM

going out to take photo's be right back

JimKshortstep4x4 · 12-05-2003, 08:49 PM

Do you have 3 on the tree, 4 speed, or automatic transmission as the switches are different for each one?

Jim

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 08:51 PM

reverse side of switch

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 08:53 PM

saftey side of switch

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 08:56 PM

these pics. are a atuomatic th400
two greens are the reverse wire's
the two purple wires are the safety side of the switch

hope this helps guys

skokie · 12-05-2003, 09:09 PM

If green and purple are standard then I know what color wire to look for.

Thanks for the pics.

jayrau · 12-05-2003, 09:27 PM

Ragnrat you are too cool! I'm going out to the truck to check it out

skokie · 12-05-2003, 09:34 PM

Ragenrat how are the reverse lights run to the lamps? Whats the path the wires take so I can trace them if needed.

Thanks again

WRMZ71 · 12-05-2003, 09:38 PM

back up lights going to the rear will be on a light green wire. The harness that plugs into the reverse/neutral switch is an L shaped connector

*rage'nrat638* · 12-05-2003, 09:41 PM

the two green wires......
one green wire come's from the fuse box ...POWER
THE OTHER GREEN WIRE....is from the the reverse light's them selves....
ends up with the 4 wires going to the rear of the truck

skokie · 12-05-2003, 09:45 PM

Thanks! Now I know what to look for.

Longhorn Man · 12-06-2003, 02:04 AM

I normally like to start off here.
Unplug the harness I am pointing to. There will be 4 wires in there, touch each one with a wife going to teh batery while some one else is looking at the lights out back. If your back up lights work like this, then you know the problem will be inside the cab.
Mostly I do this becouse I have a fubared back and would be pretty POd to spend an hr doing the under dash boogie just to find it was a broken wire from a hacked in trailer hitch.

skokie · 12-20-2003, 05:02 AM

Ok I took a look and I do not see the 2 plugs that you are showing me. It is possible they were cut loose by the previous owner. If that is the case what will I need to do? Can I wire one up or does this mean new wiring harness?

Thanks

WRMZ71 · 12-20-2003, 01:23 PM

the rear light harness if yours is not there it shouldn't be hard to get from a junker somewhere. It unplugs right there at the firewall runs the length of the DS framerail and then has another plug just like the one shown in the rear by the bumper. If you don't want to get a new harness you could just get some spade connectors and run some new 4 wires to the back. I would think that should be fairly simple.

cwilli84 · 12-20-2003, 08:01 PM

A good 4 wire harness to use would be to get a trailer wiring setup of sufficient length to go from the firewal back to the lights. Just a thought since they are close in color and fused together already.

*racedvl* · 12-20-2003, 09:46 PM

Mark you have become a pro at these trucks in a very short time! I'm sooo proud!!

PanelDeland · 12-20-2003, 09:51 PM

If you have brake/taillights your wires are probably there.You probably are just missing from the switch to the firewall. Or it may be wrapped up in the underdash harness somewhere.

12-05-2003, 08:23 PM	#1
jayrau Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: White Salmon, WA Posts: 33	backup lights my backup lights on my '72 don't work. is replacing the switch, wherever that is, fairly simple to do? Anyone ever take steps to get their backup lights working, care to share?

12-05-2003, 08:33 PM	#2
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	i have been over the hill and thru the woods to get mine to work the switch is at the bottom of the steering collium next to the fire wall.....it's a combo neutral safety switch,,,,and reverse light switch....held by two screws...in the back that you might not be able to see...do it by feel...... make sure you get the notch lined up with the tab on the collium... i did all that and still did not work.... all tho the switch was broken...come to find out the power wire going to the reverse lights had none....ran a wire from the fuse box to the switch....working great now..... mark Last edited by rage'nrat638; 12-05-2003 at 11:26 PM.

12-05-2003, 08:39 PM	#3
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Rage'nrat638 heres one for you. I have no wires that I can see that hooks up to my backup light switch on my 68. Can you describe what the piece that connects to the backup light switch looks like? Thanks Last edited by skokie; 12-05-2003 at 08:46 PM.

12-05-2003, 08:51 PM	#6
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	reverse side of switch Last edited by rage'nrat638; 07-12-2007 at 07:09 AM.

12-05-2003, 08:53 PM	#7
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	saftey side of switch Last edited by rage'nrat638; 07-12-2007 at 07:09 AM.

12-05-2003, 08:47 PM	#4
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	going out to take photo's be right back

12-05-2003, 08:49 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Do you have 3 on the tree, 4 speed, or automatic transmission as the switches are different for each one? Jim

12-05-2003, 08:56 PM	#8
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	these pics. are a atuomatic th400 two greens are the reverse wire's the two purple wires are the safety side of the switch hope this helps guys

12-05-2003, 09:09 PM	#9
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	If green and purple are standard then I know what color wire to look for. Thanks for the pics.

12-05-2003, 09:27 PM	#10
jayrau Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: White Salmon, WA Posts: 33	Ragnrat you are too cool! I'm going out to the truck to check it out

12-05-2003, 09:34 PM	#11
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Ragenrat how are the reverse lights run to the lamps? Whats the path the wires take so I can trace them if needed. Thanks again Last edited by skokie; 12-05-2003 at 09:39 PM.

12-05-2003, 09:38 PM	#12
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	back up lights going to the rear will be on a light green wire. The harness that plugs into the reverse/neutral switch is an L shaped connector

12-05-2003, 09:41 PM	#13
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	the two green wires...... one green wire come's from the fuse box ...POWER THE OTHER GREEN WIRE....is from the the reverse light's them selves.... ends up with the 4 wires going to the rear of the truck

12-05-2003, 09:45 PM	#14
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Thanks! Now I know what to look for.

12-06-2003, 02:04 AM	#15
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	I normally like to start off here. Unplug the harness I am pointing to. There will be 4 wires in there, touch each one with a wife going to teh batery while some one else is looking at the lights out back. If your back up lights work like this, then you know the problem will be inside the cab. Mostly I do this becouse I have a fubared back and would be pretty POd to spend an hr doing the under dash boogie just to find it was a broken wire from a hacked in trailer hitch. Attached Images



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

12-20-2003, 05:02 AM	#16
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Ok I took a look and I do not see the 2 plugs that you are showing me. It is possible they were cut loose by the previous owner. If that is the case what will I need to do? Can I wire one up or does this mean new wiring harness? Thanks __________________ RIP to my son Dylan. 5/17/2002 - 8/18/2018 If you want to know more about rare forms of pediatric cancer or if you want to help fund pediatric cancer research, please check out the website for the non-profit I started. https://slothforpedcancer.org 68 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223234

12-20-2003, 01:23 PM	#17
WRMZ71 Cause the Chicks DIG IT!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beaufort SC Posts: 509	the rear light harness if yours is not there it shouldn't be hard to get from a junker somewhere. It unplugs right there at the firewall runs the length of the DS framerail and then has another plug just like the one shown in the rear by the bumper. If you don't want to get a new harness you could just get some spade connectors and run some new 4 wires to the back. I would think that should be fairly simple.

12-20-2003, 08:01 PM	#18
cwilli84 1FINE69 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 239	A good 4 wire harness to use would be to get a trailer wiring setup of sufficient length to go from the firewal back to the lights. Just a thought since they are close in color and fused together already. __________________ Had a 69 swb fleetside 350zz3 w 400turbo trans oak lined bed with rhino coated sides red exterior. SOLD

12-20-2003, 09:46 PM	#19
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	Mark you have become a pro at these trucks in a very short time! I'm sooo proud!!

12-20-2003, 09:51 PM	#20
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	If you have brake/taillights your wires are probably there.You probably are just missing from the switch to the firewall. Or it may be wrapped up in the underdash harness somewhere. __________________ 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"

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.