Reverse Lights No Workey (5spd)--resolved, sort of
08-15-2010, 05:35 PM
#17
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Charlotte, NC
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I had put this on the back shelf as I was in Japan for my sisters wedding two weeks ago and it took me a week to get over the jet lag. Before taking Merlin's suggestion of testing the spare wheel connections to ground to see if I had a positive lead I thought I'd better check to make sure the reverse lights were still not working. Put the car in reverse and turned on the ignition and viola, reverse lights were working! Guess things are on the back burner again--candidates would be a bad transmission switch (or it's connection) or bad grounding.
10-19-2012, 07:33 PM
#18
Three Wheelin'
Alan & Merlin, Holy thread revival batman!!! I have the same issues. I believe I have ground issues either at the ground point or in the light fixtures. How do you get to the backside of the light fixtures? Do you have to go behind the interior rear quarter panels?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
10-19-2012, 10:37 PM
#19
Team Owner
the wire harnesses for the rear lights pass through the bulkheads .
you need to check the ground wires in the spare tire well first.
to find the rear light connectors you need to remove the hatch hold down brackets so you dont damage the quarter liners.
then remove about 3 screws from each liner and gently pull the liner out just enough to get to the wire harness, though this will aid in finding where the brown wire goes its not going to assist you in finding the issue.
look in the tire well for any brown wire grounds and behind the rear right hand side quarter liner for a grounding point
NOTE see the WSM for the rear area grounding points
Also find the connector for the trans reverse lights ,
take it apart and connect a multi to the pins that go to the trans reverse switch,
see if you have continuity when the trans is in reverse , (continuity good switch)
if you have continuity,
then turn on the key and on the other side of the connection (car side of the harness) see if you 12v being fed to the switchif you do then you have a bad ground.
If you dont have power then check the fuse.
The rear lights are not accessible other than removing the lens.
you need to check the ground wires in the spare tire well first.
to find the rear light connectors you need to remove the hatch hold down brackets so you dont damage the quarter liners.
then remove about 3 screws from each liner and gently pull the liner out just enough to get to the wire harness, though this will aid in finding where the brown wire goes its not going to assist you in finding the issue.
look in the tire well for any brown wire grounds and behind the rear right hand side quarter liner for a grounding point
NOTE see the WSM for the rear area grounding points
Also find the connector for the trans reverse lights ,
take it apart and connect a multi to the pins that go to the trans reverse switch,
see if you have continuity when the trans is in reverse , (continuity good switch)
if you have continuity,
then turn on the key and on the other side of the connection (car side of the harness) see if you 12v being fed to the switchif you do then you have a bad ground.
If you dont have power then check the fuse.
The rear lights are not accessible other than removing the lens.
10-20-2012, 02:55 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
Thanks! We've tried most of this... the switch is good - took it out and bench tested it with multimeter and have power going to the switch. Fuse is good. Have power at the spare tire connectors. Thinking its a grounding issue - will try to clean up the one behind the right side quarter panel (if I can get to it) Only place left we havent checked. I'll let ya know what I find.
