No Reverse Lights

[Hognose]

I will be putting my car back on the road in a couple of weeks (Trans Rebuild) I noticed that my reverse lights do not work. I haven't had the car long and I am pretty sure they have not worked since I have owned it. I haven't been to worried about but inspection is due this month so I have to get them working. The bulbs seem fine. Is there a switch somewhere that can go bad? Or something else to check? Thanks,

Matthew

 

[green95ss]

Sounds like the reverse/neutral switch is not working correctly. Can you start your car in any gear? Do you have a console or column-mounted shifter? The does shifter bowl (steering column) spin when you change the gear selector?

There is a neutral safety switch on top of the steering column under the dash that either needs to be adjusted or replaced. I'm not sure how to adjust it, but do a search on neutral switch or reverse lights and you will find the info you need.

Hope this helps,

Guhan

 

[Hognose]

Thanks,
No it will not start in any gear. I do not beleive the column spins freely.

 

[turbofish38]

Since you mentioned transmission rebuild make sure you have the NSS rod hooked up to the steering column. This is the rod that runs from the equalizer shaft to the bottom of the steering col.

Eric Fisher

 

[Turbo Brian]

If the rod is out of adjustment, you may have backup lights in another gear or just a flash as the lights come on and then go off. With the key on, run the selector through the gears with someone else watching to see if the rod is simply misadjusted. Most of the time this is the case, and all that is needed is to lengthen the rod slightly to get the lights to work.

 

[87blackbuick]

is there any disadvantage to not having the rod connected besides the being able to start the car in any gear and no back up lights?