Reverse lights do not work? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lha1992 · 11-28-2010, 05:32 PM

Well, one of the problems I've been needing to fix on my truck is that the reverse backup lights do not work. I checked the bulbs and there okay and everything. What else should I look at to make them work again?

Oh, and the truck is a '89 silverado C1500 with a 700R4 tranny.

1badgmc · 11-28-2010, 05:44 PM

When I bought my '91 way back in '96 the reverse lights didn't work. I never bothered to fix them. Now I don't even have reverse lights at all.

ChevLoRay · 11-29-2010, 12:27 AM

My left b/u light "sometimes" on me. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I think it has to do with the "circuit board" in the taillight ass'y, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it right now.

bucannon · 11-29-2010, 04:37 AM

mine dont work unless i hold the shifter up just a tiny bit while its in reverse, my assumption is a worn out switch in the column. probably the same issue your facing. have somebody stand behind it while you move the shifter slightly while its in reverse and see if the lights come on

chrismcc2011 · 11-29-2010, 01:24 PM

i have the same problem in my 90 chevy. it sucks at night and cant see anything behind you.

RLTW375 · 11-29-2010, 02:09 PM

Same here on the 94 I just got. But I haven't tried anything yet, trying bulbs and fuses today. But this goes along with no dome light parking brake light on no power locks ect.... I've got some work ahead of me.

Ricky78045 · 10-07-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucannon

mine dont work unless i hold the shifter up just a tiny bit while its in reverse, my assumption is a worn out switch in the column. probably the same issue your facing. have somebody stand behind it while you move the shifter slightly while its in reverse and see if the lights come on

I have that same issue with my 88, if I don't tap up it won't read it, I'd like to fix it but I don know for sure what it is

Posted via Mobile Device

Ricky78045 · 12-06-2011, 10:20 PM

update for me: i fixed my issue it was the circuit boards they were kinda toasty and looked a bit like a short went on there...

89chevsj · 12-10-2011, 06:45 PM

mine is a bad switch. not sure where it is but I've noticed that when the spring that pulls the shift lever forward is going out the switch won't work properly.

dishow · 12-11-2011, 10:05 AM

mine is the same way.hit and miss. changed the switch,still the same.its hooked up to a toggle switch now.they have to work for inspection here.

Ricky78045 · 12-11-2011, 03:25 PM

the backup light switch is at the base of the column close to the pedals, its a white one. before i would have to tap up on the shifter after putting it in reverse to make the lights turn on, i put the truck in bulb test and popped it in reverse and adjusted the backup switch. thats what happend to me, might be something that could help one of you.

ChevLoRay · 12-11-2011, 04:04 PM

Update for me, too. My circuit board on the left side was afflicted. Where the backup light plugged in (OEM board) the contacts had gotten hot and melted down into the plastic. The replacement board, from O'Reilly's, has a different socket and I like it better than the GM part. Don't like $25, but that's okay.

tattoed71 · 12-12-2011, 12:16 PM

mine was the po took the bed off to put a new pump and forgot to hook up the ground wire

Bardahl · 12-12-2011, 12:27 PM

Its on the column unless you have a manual transmission, then its located on the shift linkage/ transmission somehow/somewhere, i got lucky on my 2 68s it was one thing I really didn`t think to check and they work on both trucks??, one is a 3 speed on the column and the other is a auto.

mountie · 12-12-2011, 02:53 PM

On the '88 and up, so many years, there was a GM technical service bulletin to change out the tail light socket assy with the newer style plug-in. Funny.... my old style socket melted back in '91 and they replaced only the one side, making me buy 2 different styles bulbs. The melting happened if the brake light stayed on too long.

I may be wrong, but, the reverse back-up light switch actuator(wire/plug) is on the driver's side transmission and the reverse switch adjustment is on the column?

I need to put "a little English" on my shifter also, to turn on the back-up lights.

11-28-2010, 05:32 PM	#1
lha1992 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 504	Reverse lights do not work? Well, one of the problems I've been needing to fix on my truck is that the reverse backup lights do not work. I checked the bulbs and there okay and everything. What else should I look at to make them work again? Oh, and the truck is a '89 silverado C1500 with a 700R4 tranny.

11-28-2010, 05:44 PM	#2
1badgmc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 3,153	Re: Reverse lights do not work? When I bought my '91 way back in '96 the reverse lights didn't work. I never bothered to fix them. Now I don't even have reverse lights at all. __________________ '91 GMC RC Sportside '98 Chevy Suburban '88 Chevy Crew Cab Dually

11-29-2010, 12:27 AM	#3
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Reverse lights do not work? My left b/u light "sometimes" on me. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I think it has to do with the "circuit board" in the taillight ass'y, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it right now. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-29-2010, 04:37 AM	#4
bucannon Salty Sailor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 603	Re: Reverse lights do not work? mine dont work unless i hold the shifter up just a tiny bit while its in reverse, my assumption is a worn out switch in the column. probably the same issue your facing. have somebody stand behind it while you move the shifter slightly while its in reverse and see if the lights come on __________________ 86 c-10 Custom Deluxe Savannah, Georgia

11-29-2010, 01:24 PM	#5
chrismcc2011 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sacramento. California Posts: 15	Re: Reverse lights do not work? i have the same problem in my 90 chevy. it sucks at night and cant see anything behind you. __________________ 1964-1966 chevy swb not sure on year yet. 1972 swb (dads truck for now) 1990 shortbed stepside.

11-29-2010, 02:09 PM	#6
RLTW375 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tri-Cities, WA Posts: 95	Re: Reverse lights do not work? Same here on the 94 I just got. But I haven't tried anything yet, trying bulbs and fuses today. But this goes along with no dome light parking brake light on no power locks ect.... I've got some work ahead of me. __________________ 72 CST Blazer 4x4 (Revival in progress) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430968

12-06-2011, 10:20 PM	#8
Ricky78045 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Texas Posts: 171	Re: Reverse lights do not work? update for me: i fixed my issue it was the circuit boards they were kinda toasty and looked a bit like a short went on there... __________________ It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road... 1988 Chevrolet Silverado Single Cab, Short bed, 350, 5.7L: daily driver/on a budget restoration

12-10-2011, 06:45 PM	#9
89chevsj error 404 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: soldotna alaska Posts: 1,252	Re: Reverse lights do not work? mine is a bad switch. not sure where it is but I've noticed that when the spring that pulls the shift lever forward is going out the switch won't work properly. __________________ 89 Chevy swb 350 "SJ" DD turned parts truck. SOLD 90 Chevy ext cab loooongbed. "storm trooper" Rust In Peace. 06 Kia sorento wife's car 06 charger srt8 "lucifer" my toy '12 Kia optima

12-11-2011, 10:05 AM	#10
dishow Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: pa. Posts: 1,185	Re: Reverse lights do not work? mine is the same way.hit and miss. changed the switch,still the same.its hooked up to a toggle switch now.they have to work for inspection here. __________________ 67 chevy c 10 2x4 350/700r4 short/fleet 90 Chevy 1500 4x4 350/5 spd short/fleet 90 Chevy 454 ss 93 chevy camaro z28 auto t-tops 2013 Chevy Silverado LT CCSB 4x4

12-11-2011, 03:25 PM	#11
Ricky78045 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Texas Posts: 171	Re: Reverse lights do not work? the backup light switch is at the base of the column close to the pedals, its a white one. before i would have to tap up on the shifter after putting it in reverse to make the lights turn on, i put the truck in bulb test and popped it in reverse and adjusted the backup switch. thats what happend to me, might be something that could help one of you. __________________ It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road... 1988 Chevrolet Silverado Single Cab, Short bed, 350, 5.7L: daily driver/on a budget restoration

12-11-2011, 04:04 PM	#12
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Reverse lights do not work? Update for me, too. My circuit board on the left side was afflicted. Where the backup light plugged in (OEM board) the contacts had gotten hot and melted down into the plastic. The replacement board, from O'Reilly's, has a different socket and I like it better than the GM part. Don't like $25, but that's okay. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

12-12-2011, 12:16 PM	#13
tattoed71 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: abilene,Texas Posts: 149	Re: Reverse lights do not work? mine was the po took the bed off to put a new pump and forgot to hook up the ground wire

12-12-2011, 12:27 PM	#14
Bardahl Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Northwest Posts: 90	Re: Reverse lights do not work? Its on the column unless you have a manual transmission, then its located on the shift linkage/ transmission somehow/somewhere, i got lucky on my 2 68s it was one thing I really didn`t think to check and they work on both trucks??, one is a 3 speed on the column and the other is a auto.

12-12-2011, 02:53 PM	#15
mountie Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bradenton, Fla. Posts: 1,100	Re: Reverse lights do not work? On the '88 and up, so many years, there was a GM technical service bulletin to change out the tail light socket assy with the newer style plug-in. Funny.... my old style socket melted back in '91 and they replaced only the one side, making me buy 2 different styles bulbs. The melting happened if the brake light stayed on too long. I may be wrong, but, the reverse back-up light switch actuator(wire/plug) is on the driver's side transmission and the reverse switch adjustment is on the column? I need to put "a little English" on my shifter also, to turn on the back-up lights.



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