[350chevypower]

Hi on my 89SBC s15 when i put my transmission into reverse my reverse lights dont come on but my brake lights stay on. In drive the brake lights come off and dont come back on until i touch the brake. When headlights are on its the same thing... reverse= no reverse lights but brake lights stay on put it out of reverse, brake lights come off. Is there a switch thats bad i should be aware of or bad wiring somewhere? I dont think it could be wiring tho if everything else works?

[bubbahotep]

Might be a white switch on the steering column under the dash kinda where your ankle you be if you press the gas?? Some of the 80's cars has a 3" long, slightly bent, switch that moved with the gear shifter for reverse lights. Its 2 screws to remove if its there. Dont quote me

[MRTS33]

Your brake lights should NOT come on when you put it in reverse UNLESS your foot is on the brake. Check your wiring. The switch on the column that Bubba is talking about also has the nuteral safety switch(2 purple wires on a GM I believe) built in it. I don't remember what color the wires for the reverse light are. You should be able to pull the connector off and put a jumper between the 2 wires to make the reverse lights come on. You would have to have the key in the on position. If the switch is out of ajustment loosen the 2 5/16"(I think) screws and move the switch up or down acordingly. Becareful doing the because it afects the nuteral safety switch also, so test that also after ajustment.

[randolphi]

Automatic trans uses column swt, pink wire from fuse, Lt green to lamps.
Manual trans has swt for B/U Lts only, with same wire colors.
Trouble points at trailer plug wiring add ons,are the most common.
rarely the turn signal switch under steering wheel, does that.
Disconnecting the switch, will indicate where to check. (brake lights still on? yes or no)
Otherwise wiring at taillights, could have strange splicing or tape, changes.

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by bubbahotep

Might be a white switch on the steering column under the dash kinda where your ankle you be if you press the gas?? Some of the 80's cars has a 3" long, slightly bent, switch that moved with the gear shifter for reverse lights. Its 2 screws to remove if its there. Dont quote me

Like bubba says the neutral safety switch and the backup light switch are together, It is at the very bottom of you column, and has terminals on each end for plugs, two wires on each one either that switch has gone bad on the backup side or is out of adjustment either get the car off the ground or put it where nothing is in front of it, bump the key in gear to see if it will turn over, you don't have to start it,just see if it's getting power. If you do the whole thing is out of adjustment, if it doesn't do anything, check The other side of th switch and see if you have power going though it in a gear besides reverse, if you do I would say you have a bad switch, I don't think it would be the wires because there are to many things going on.


Later 35terraplane

[randolphi]

Originally Posted by 35terraplane

Like bubba says the neutral safety switch and the backup light switch are together, It is at the very bottom of you column, and has terminals on each end for plugs, two wires on each one either that switch has gone bad on the backup side or is out of adjustment either get the car off the ground or put it where nothing is in front of it, bump the key in gear to see if it will turn over, you don't have to start it,just see if it's getting power. If you do the whole thing is out of adjustment, if it doesn't do anything, check The other side of th switch and see if you have power going though it in a gear besides reverse, if you do I would say you have a bad switch, I don't think it would be the wires because there are to many things going on.


Later 35terraplane

The backup light switch should not have any effect on Brake Lights,

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by randolphi

The backup light switch should not have any effect on Brake Lights,

They shouldn't but when he takes it out of reverse the brake lights go out. that shouldn't happen either. The head light switch , I think that can be taken out altogether as it has nothing to do with anything coming out of the column.

you have four different circuits coming out of the column.
stop light switch white wire, other side of switch red wire to fuse panel.
Turn signals and stop light right rear dark green, to rear.
left rear stop light and turn signal yellow wire, to rear.
turn signal flasher power from fuse panel purple wire.
hazard flasher power from fuse panel brown.
right front signal dark blue wire to front.
left tun signal light , light blue to front,
horn black wire to fuse panel.
Some Buick columns are green wire on horn, why I don't know.

Next plug on column is the ignition switch plug, these may or may not be by color alot of them are letter/number sequence rather than colored wires they are all in the same sequence , it is just what they are using.
The last thing on the column is the backup light switch and the neutral safety switch It is one switch with one end being the backup, the other the safety switch. two wires coming off both one Sorry I don't have the color wire in front of me at the moment. now the the statement that the backup switch has nothing to do with the brake lights is true but you said the brake lites stayed on until you took it out of reverse, which says the brake light is getting power from somewhere when the lever is in reverse, do the brake light s come on when you put it in reverse? If not I'm going to have to go to my shop and get a wiring diagram I'm trying to do this from memory, Which is not a good way to do wiring.


Later 35terraplane

[35terraplane]

Originally Posted by 350chevypower

Hi on my 89SBC s15 when i put my transmission into reverse my reverse lights dont come on but my brake lights stay on. In drive the brake lights come off and dont come back on until i touch the brake. When headlights are on its the same thing... reverse= no reverse lights but brake lights stay on put it out of reverse, brake lights come off. Is there a switch thats bad i should be aware of or bad wiring somewhere? I dont think it could be wiring tho if everything else works?

I just asked in another post if the brake lights came on so if you put it in reverse, you said they did so somewhere you are feeding the bake lights when the car is in reverse.I would start at the backup switch, Take the plug off the switch then with a ohms meter check the power side or where the power comes in to the yellow, or dark green wire coming out of the light plug on the column with the car in reverse. if the meter moves , then check the other side of the switch, you can do either one first, if there is no movement I would say you have a short some how to the bake light. You are going to have to disconnect the battery and have the key on. so again check other side of backup switch, no movement, check dark green wire at light plug if movement I would say switch is bad, also check other side of switch when in reverse if no movement then I'm sure it is switch. If there is movement I would adjust switch until you have movement in neutral or park only , on the safety switch then go back to the other side check again with car in reverse if movement across terminals and none on yellow or dark green wire you should be ok.


Later 35 terraplane

[350chevypower]

Thank u all for the much needed info... Indeed it turned out to be just the switch! I tried adjusting it and got nothing checked for power on the drk green wire got movement but nothign on the other side. Double checked with my mech and he agreed. Went down to NAPA put a new switch in and voila! works again...... thanks again guys

[35terraplane]

Glad I could Help. Wiring is preety easy and break it down to small sections, and don't assume anything. it best to have a wiring diagram.


Later 35terraplane

[67Mustang Al.]

True words about the need for a wiring diagram. Just finished a rewire i thought was going to take a week which ended up a 4 week job. A 67 Mustang diagram from the net was true down to the last wire with colour codes matching. Studied it for weeks, but the end result is all good. Got to have everything going for you, lots of coffee. + fuses and be able to fit under the dash with your head jammed in there.
cheers. Al.