My reverse lights stopped working

Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 FORD BRONCO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 194,000 MILES
And popped the cap off the back, and is was all black. So when I replaced them all my tail lights and interior lights stopped working. Only thing I can think of is the relay. I checked the fuse(good), the circuit breaker(good). Is there anything I am over looking?
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 AT 11:07 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Ya the nuetral safety switch which controls the reverse lights. What cap are you talking about and was all black? Check to see if your trailer harness hasn't shorted the wire out someplace. It s black with a pink stripe. Then check yoru fusible link on your starter relay it's brown/yellow lthere may also be another andit may have burnt up.
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Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 AT 11:16 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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OK I'll check that and let you know in the morning! Thanks
the cap I'm talking about is, the cap on the back of the tail light socket.
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Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 AT 11:47 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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I also found the flasher being bad as well. Where is the neutral switch located?
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 11:40 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Eitehr at the bottom of the steering column or on thetransmission
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 1:29 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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Ok the Neutral switch is bad, and lucky me the one I have is the most expensive one! Thanks for the help I'll let ya know when I get it fixed. Thanks for the help.
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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That's usually the way it goes lol
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 5:45 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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Ok now the question is, my turn signals work. My brakes light work, but the running tail lights don't. What can that be?
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Check your trailer harness
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 6:29 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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I don't have a trailer harness anymore it was cut out, but ill check all wires for it. But now left brake light and turn signals work but not the right, and the running light still don't work either. Also my dash lights stopped working as well.
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 10:49 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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There has to be aproblem with either the ground back there or the wires are grounding out. If the harness was cut out look there first because it probably was done poorly and may be your reason for all your lighting problems.
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011 AT 11:30 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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Ok Ill looked at the wiring and all the wires are fine. Could it be possible for the link to be bad?
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Friday, October 28th, 2011 AT 5:24 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
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Yes it could but normally if hte harness has been disconnected alot of guys don't take the time to do it right and just cut it. Other than that you have ahort int eh harness someplace and it will need to be fixed. But ake sure you check the ground for the back lights, it should be on the frame somplace in ther rear, usualy driver side. If there is a lot of dirt/rust it can effect that.
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Friday, October 28th, 2011 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
BRONCOBEAST89
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Yeah I took it off and cleaned it off with a wire brush before I went back into the testing phase. I even soldered the 5 ground wires together to ensure I had a good connection on the ground wires. I'm going to go ahead an replace the relay switch as well. And if worst goes to worst, then I will re-run all new wire back there. But can you explain to me about this links cause all I see it where the 5 ground wires meet from all the lights from license plates to both tail lights. But I'm trying really hard to re-frane from having to do that.
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Sunday, October 30th, 2011 AT 4:20 AM
Tiny
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The ground wires must have a good ground on the frame thtat is where they are supposed to connect. I really beleive thereis some type of wire shorting out someplace in your system. You'll just have to find it.
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Sunday, October 30th, 2011 AT 2:11 PM

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