Back up lights are non-op...

[Darrman]

I went to install a rear backup camera because of limo tint and switching to the night shift at the job.
So, get it all wired up and realize the damn lights are not working at all, dont know for how long, may be up to a year ago.
So here is the symptoms, there is no juice to the sockets, tested the wires themselves and the sockets.
So I check the fuse, fuse is great, looks brand new and all the other functions on that circuit are working fine.
So I think its the transmission switch, I have a m5r1 so I go ahead and replace it with a brand new switch, still nothing.
So now I am out of ideas, I plan to try to jump the switch harness to see if I got a bad switch, wouldnt be the first time.
Yes my bulbs are good, and no the camera will not work without the juice supply to the bulbs. Right now the camera is unwired so that there is no interferance while I figure this out.
So does anybody else have any ideas/run into this problem before?
Please let me know.
Thanks!

 

[Darrman]

Looks like the new switch is bad, have wait for a new one to find out for sure.

 

[Darrman]

Well this sucks I guess my basicly brand new transmission is jacked up somehow. Turns out the switches are good after all if you take them out while still plugged up, push the ball bearing by hand. Put the switch back in and put er in reverse, nothing, nada. Tried wiggling the shifter, wiggling the wires and harness, nothing.
So whatever is in the trans that is supposed to push against the ball bearing in the switch must be broke or something.
This sucks real bad.
Does anybody have any ideas, cause otherwise I am getting rid of this damn truck.
Thanks!

 

[Spdrcer34]

There is a push rod for that switch....is it in place?

 

[Darrman]

No, I checked with a mirror and flashlight, just a hole going into the gears themselves. How is this push rod installed, from inside or outside the case?
Thanks!

 

[Spdrcer34]

You are familiar with the switch, correct?

The push rod is what links the shift gate to the button on the reverse switch.

It sound like you have already done this:

Test the switch:

Remove the switch from the transmission top plate

Manually depress the button on the switch.

Check for the reverse lights to come on.

I can not recall if the switch is self grounding, If it is, take your battery booster cables (also called Jumper Cables), and clamp around the switch body, and on the other end of the cable, clamp onto the body of the transmission.

From there, you should be able to tell if it is a mechanical/internal switch linkage issue, or an electrical wiring issue.

Ryan

 

[Darrman]

i did make sure the switch itself is working along with the lights and even the new camera
It does not require a ground luckily.
I called the dealership, they have the pin i am just wondering if it was missing all along since installing the rebuilt trans or if it somehow has fallen into the trans. I have never heard or felt anything strange and the trans works great.

 

[Spdrcer34]

I don't think it is possible for the pushrod to fall into the transmission...I've never seen it atleast....

Ryan

 

[Darrman]

I got the new pin today, put it in and it works like a charm! Hard to believe still that I must have gone two years without backup lights!
Anyways thanks Spdrcer34 for your help, I would probably still be scratching my head right now.
To celebrate the lights working I also bought a set of Silverstar bulbs so I can see more on the camera.