Revearse Lights stay on ... 71 challenger

[thenuke1]

another electrical problem ... it never bothered me but now that i put in a new TS switch im wondering what it is

the reverse lights just stay on regardless if the gear is actually in reverse or not.

[ShelbyDogg]

Reverse lights actually come right from the trans switch, manual or automatic.    Looking at the bulkhead wiring from the engine side, pull off the lower left plug under the wiper wiring and see if the reverse lights goes off.  If it does, it is the reverse light switch on the trans.

[moparmaniac59]

I have the same problem. Never noticed it till someone pointed it out on the hwy. I just removed the bulbs till I can get it fixed. So not to steal the thread, but if I unplug the bulkhead connector switch and the reverse lights go out....then what? Would it be an electrical problem internal to the tranny??

                                                  Matt B.

[ChallengerHK]

So not to steal the thread, but if I unplug the bulkhead connector switch and the reverse lights go out....then what? Would it be an electrical problem internal to the tranny??

I think what ShelbyDogg is saying is that if you pull the connector and the lights go out then the Park/Neutral start switch, which also controls the reverse lights, is shorting to ground. It's a pretty easy bolt-on part to replace.

[ShelbyDogg]

Reverse lights complete the circuit when the reverse switch is on. Shorting to ground will blow a fuse. ChallengerHK is right about what I said about pulling the connector. If you pull it and the reverse lights go out, then your switch is always closed, completing the circuit or the 2 wires are shorted together.   If you run an automatic trans, the center pin is what gets grounded to complete the circuit for the starter solenoid. In that case, it is the 2 outside wires that connect together to turn on the lights.

If you pull the plug and they still stay on, then they are getting power from somewhere else.  You didn't just get a new harness from a company that starts with EVA did you?

[moparmaniac59]

I have a new engine wiring harness (which so far is fine) and then I also got the neutral safety/automatic tranny harness (single plug on each end) from the same source that begins with EVA.... Are these known to have problems?? Thanks!!


                                                 Matt B.
 

[ShelbyDogg]

I have a new engine wiring harness (which so far is fine) and then I also got the neutral safety/automatic tranny harness (single plug on each end) from the same source that begins with EVA.... Are these known to have problems?? Thanks!!


                                                 Matt B.

YES,YES, YES!

Did your lights happen to come on AFTER you changed that wiring harness?

[moparmaniac59]

Ummm. That would be yes, yes, yes.




                                                        Matt B.

[ShelbyDogg]

You are lucky that your car didn't burn to the ground.  LOL!


Did you pull the plug yet to see if the lights go off?