Back up lights no worky...

[Dsertdog]

Hello...
Tried to get the back up lamps to work on the '66 today. No luck.

I do have continuity to ground on the outer socket.

I do not have power to the center pin when the key is on and the shifter is in reverse.
Thanks to the FSM, I discovered that earlier Mopars don't use a 3 pin neutral switch on the transmission, but that the backup lamp switch is on the shifter mount.
Do these switches go bad?
Is there a fuse I should check? Or a bulkhead connector?

As always, any help would be appreciated. I have learned a ton of things in the last few weeks!

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Try to see if the switch is misadjusted - they're notorious for that.

Of course, a lack of effective grounding at the light socket is the other big issue.

Check with a buddy or a strategically placed mirror that the switch is adjusted and sends power to the lights, and check that grounding is good.

I'll bet that's your issue.

 

[Dsertdog]

Thank you Ross,
I checked the continuity of the socket base to housing and to the bumper and it was good. The pin wire also checked out through though both sides of the plug. Both sockets were the same
I could not get any voltage though. I bet the switch is not engaging.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

There are switches available for console shifters - do the lights light if you bridge the contacts at the switch?

 

[Dsertdog]

There are switches available for console shifters - do the lights light if you bridge the contacts at the switch?

No Ross, I haven't gotten that far yet. Will have to take the console out and check that. Thanks for letting me know these switches may be a problem.
Is the switch a Mopar part? Or does a repo supplier carry these?

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

They're not in reproduction, or if they are they're expensive.

Here's an eBay search showing some used ones.

Has to be for console shift 66 and up.

I'd be peeling mine apart to see why - it's probably just needs to have the contacts cleaned inside.

 

[swisherred]

The ones in my 67 newport didn't work either...I cleaned the bases and replaced the bulbs...the switch had continuity, but I found the old grease in it was causing it to stick in place and not make full contact. I removed it and cleaned it really good then relubed it and the slide switch worked great after that.