Reverse Lights? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1978steven · 04-28-2005, 02:23 PM

I finished converting my '71 from three speed column shift to TH 350 auto. My question is about the reverse lights. They were inop with the three speed, and now that I have the auto in I'm not sure where the harness or switch is? Everything is in and working well, but I have no clue where the reverse light stuff is. I did notice an extra switch on the auto column (next to the main harness for the column).

Is this what I'm looking for?

Thanks for the help,
Steven

**CPNE** · 04-28-2005, 02:30 PM

If that switch you refer to is on the column down by the inside cab side of the firewall, it is the neutral safety/backup light switch. It should have connections for 2 pigtails, one being the backup lights, the other being the neutral safety wiring for the ignition. If You you did not swap out the dash harness from your 3 speed for one from an automatic equipped truck you won't have the neutral/saftey wiring. No worries, but be aware it'll start in gear without it. As for the reverse lights, the pigtail that ran off your 3 speed columns reverse switch wiring will plug right in. Sorry I can't remember wire colors.

blazerparts · 04-28-2005, 05:09 PM

Green wire "L" plug is backup lites, heavy purple is NSS

1978steven · 04-28-2005, 06:17 PM

So the wire I'm looking for is in under the dash? I did disconnect a wire on the 3 speed, not sure what that was.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 04-28-2005, 08:04 PM

As CPNE stated the three speed wiring harness will not have the two wire pigtail for the neutral safety switch. You can wire one in by interrupting the purple starter wire with a pigtail from an automatic harness.

The double green wire for the backup lights ties into the fuse panel and your truck should have the pigtail.

If you can't find it, I can take a pic and post it.

Jim

1978steven · 04-28-2005, 09:14 PM

Jim, Could you post that picture?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 04-29-2005, 07:41 AM

I will take a pic later today and post it.

Jim

67chevemall · 04-29-2005, 08:23 AM

standard to an auto?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 04-30-2005, 09:23 PM

Here is a picture of the backup light wiring plug with the neutral safety right beside it. On the automatics both pigtails will be seen coming out of the fuse panel.

If you had a 4 speed truck the backup light wiring routed out of the firewall gutter back to transmission. The backup light wiring is green/light green in both cases. The neutral safety switch wiring, (which was not on the stick shift harness was purple).

Sorry about the delay in posting the pic.

Jim

1978steven · 05-01-2005, 10:10 PM

Thanks for the pictures. She was a three speed truck, I'll have to check it out and see what I have to work with.

2labman · 08-01-2017, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

Here is a picture of the backup light wiring plug with the neutral safety right beside it. On the automatics both pigtails will be seen coming out of the fuse panel.

If you had a 4 speed truck the backup light wiring routed out of the firewall gutter back to transmission. The backup light wiring is green/light green in both cases. The neutral safety switch wiring, (which was not on the stick shift harness was purple).

Sorry about the delay in posting the pic.

Jim

Jim I'm putting in a painless harness and it has the 2 purple wires but I can't find the back up light wires or plug it's a 4 speed transmission and I bought a new nss to use. Where do the b/u lights run from to the switch and where does the switch get its power from. Does it have to be mounted tightly to the column to even work correctly?
Posted via Mobile Device

In The Ten Ring · 08-02-2017, 06:00 AM

Reverse lights on my truck only work if I physically hold the shift lever up the last 1/4 of an inch. 3OTT.

I plan on adding a rear step bumper and putting my own reverse flood lights onto that with a switch and if the inspector asks to see, just flipping that on when he says "now try reverse."

04-28-2005, 02:23 PM	#1
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	Reverse Lights? I finished converting my '71 from three speed column shift to TH 350 auto. My question is about the reverse lights. They were inop with the three speed, and now that I have the auto in I'm not sure where the harness or switch is? Everything is in and working well, but I have no clue where the reverse light stuff is. I did notice an extra switch on the auto column (next to the main harness for the column). Is this what I'm looking for? Thanks for the help, Steven __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

04-28-2005, 02:30 PM	#2
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	If that switch you refer to is on the column down by the inside cab side of the firewall, it is the neutral safety/backup light switch. It should have connections for 2 pigtails, one being the backup lights, the other being the neutral safety wiring for the ignition. If You you did not swap out the dash harness from your 3 speed for one from an automatic equipped truck you won't have the neutral/saftey wiring. No worries, but be aware it'll start in gear without it. As for the reverse lights, the pigtail that ran off your 3 speed columns reverse switch wiring will plug right in. Sorry I can't remember wire colors. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

04-28-2005, 05:09 PM	#3
blazerparts No,I DON'T have Tourett's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 556	Green wire "L" plug is backup lites, heavy purple is NSS __________________ '72 K5 CST 350/350 Daily Driver '69 GMC3500 Camper Special CST Flatbed 396/400 Upgraded to show truck '69 GMC 2500 L6292, 3spd beater

04-28-2005, 06:17 PM	#4
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	So the wire I'm looking for is in under the dash? I did disconnect a wire on the 3 speed, not sure what that was. __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

04-28-2005, 09:14 PM	#6
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	Jim, Could you post that picture? __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

04-28-2005, 08:04 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	As CPNE stated the three speed wiring harness will not have the two wire pigtail for the neutral safety switch. You can wire one in by interrupting the purple starter wire with a pigtail from an automatic harness. The double green wire for the backup lights ties into the fuse panel and your truck should have the pigtail. If you can't find it, I can take a pic and post it. Jim

04-29-2005, 07:41 AM	#7
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	I will take a pic later today and post it. Jim

04-29-2005, 08:23 AM	#8
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	standard to an auto? __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

04-30-2005, 09:23 PM	#9
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Here is a picture of the backup light wiring plug with the neutral safety right beside it. On the automatics both pigtails will be seen coming out of the fuse panel. If you had a 4 speed truck the backup light wiring routed out of the firewall gutter back to transmission. The backup light wiring is green/light green in both cases. The neutral safety switch wiring, (which was not on the stick shift harness was purple). Sorry about the delay in posting the pic. Jim Attached Images

05-01-2005, 10:10 PM	#10
1978steven Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Currently New Windsor, NY but Texas is home Posts: 332	Thanks for the pictures. She was a three speed truck, I'll have to check it out and see what I have to work with. __________________ 2002 Silverado 2500HD LB7 CCSB LT EFI Live by Rob at ATP, Edge CTS Insight DSP 5 control, S&B CAI, PPE boost valve, Pro Fab AIH, AirDog II 165, PPE WIF sensor delete plug, 5" stainless exhaust, Cognito braces & HD tie rods, H2's 315/70 R17 BFG's 2004 Tahoe LT 2006 Silverado Z71 LS 1971 Chevy C10

08-02-2017, 06:00 AM	#12
In The Ten Ring Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 6,421	Re: Reverse Lights? Reverse lights on my truck only work if I physically hold the shift lever up the last 1/4 of an inch. 3OTT. I plan on adding a rear step bumper and putting my own reverse flood lights onto that with a switch and if the inspector asks to see, just flipping that on when he says "now try reverse." Last edited by In The Ten Ring; 08-02-2017 at 06:15 AM.



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