Reverse lights not going on?

[priapism]

I have a manual car that was an auto (swapped, not by me).

The reverse lights don't work. Don't think they never have. I didn't do the swap so I don't know what's involved. Is there a wire, switch, or something that I need to connect to get them to work?

[bmw325csi]

there is a wire that runs from the shifter to the rear under the car, its probably cut. Look for it around the drive shaft.

[McGyver]

their is a switch on the tranny on the left side if you are looking up laying on your back. IIRC its in a spot where you can't see. Just sort of feel for it and take it out. it will have 2 wires running to it.

once its out see if the copper terminals are all corroded. mine was and thats why it stopped working. i still put in the new one, so i can send you the old one for shipping costs.

[801coppertop]

My car had the same, the harmonic balancer chewed right through the wire, than i fixed that, still didn't work, than replaced the switch, than the wire came apart (hard to do the wiring while under the car with not much slack) I got new wire and re-did the whole lead, now this weekend when i do my guibo, csb, shift bushings, i am going to put it back in. Hopefully that fixes it. But as McGyver said it's more of a "feel" to replace the switch. It can be a little frustrating trying to thread the new one in, but you will get it...

[McGyver]

It can be a little frustrating trying to thread the new one in, but you will get it...

Be honest, its more thank "a little frustrating".... i almost killed a man.

[priapism]

Thanks peeps, will give it a shot as soon as I have garage room.

[Ferdinand]

It's frustrating getting at the reverse switch on the side of the transmission or the wiring under the car. I said screw that and simply rigged my own switch on the dash.

Lift the shift lever boot. You'll see two wires going down through the rubber boot. If you enjoy frustration you can crawl under the car and try to trace them from underneath. Or the much easier solution, from inside the car, is to trace the wires forward toward the dash and only a couple of inches upstream you'll find a connector plug.

I unplugged that connector, to remove the potential of any broken wires under the car blowing fuse-10 someday. Then I wired a toggle switch across the two wires inside the car. Switch closed, presto reverse lights. Switch open, reverse lights off.

Use an illuminated switch so you know when the reverse lights are on and then you won't forget to turn them off again.

[b*saint]

Just run a new wire. That's what I do when I cant find a break or short. Fuck it.