2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Can't get reverse lights to come on

[GBrock]

The %$&@#%$ used car dealer who sold me my truck passed on a bunch of problems. One of them is that the reverse lights won't illuminate. My diesel mechanic checked the reverse switch and said it's ok. I then checked the bulbs and their OK. An electrician who works for me suggested that perhaps there is a relay that went bad. So I went to the dealer and they reported no relay is used for the reverse lights, which makes sense. But they also said they never heard of this problem before.



Any ideas as to what my problem with the rev lights might be and how to track it down?

 

[JApol]

Get your electricians multimeter and start reading for 12v DC at the reverse light connector and read for shorts to ground on the ground wires. If no volts you know that there is either a wiring or a power issue, if there is no ground or high resistance on the ground, find the ground and clean all the dirt/corrosion and see if that works.



Have you checked the fuse?

 

[SBettencourt]

Like JApol said, check the fuse.

If the fuse is blown, it could be an intermittent short in the reverse light switch. It could also be a short in the wiring but if it looks intact I'd go for a bad switch. It will show good if already on but they must short out internally during the motion from off to on.

BTDT with a neutral safety/backup switch on my 96.

 

[Thomas]

The factory back-up lighting on second-generation Rams is so poor that it may seem like they are not operating even though they really are #ad


You need to check three items:

• Fuse 7 in the junction block (door at left-end of dash). An easy test would be to swap with another 10 amp fuse - there are plenty of 10 amp fuses in the junction block.
• Backup light switch. Pull the connector from the switch (the only wires going to your NV5600 transmission) and jump the two conductors in the connector removed from the switch. The backup lamps should light with the key in the run position.
• Light bulbs. The 3157 bulbs should be present! You can swap with a tail/brake/turn signal bulb for testing.

If these three items are good your problem is in the wiring/connections. Isolate the problem to pre- or post- backup light switch. With the connector removed from the backup light switch and the key in the run position you should see +12 volts at the Brown/Light Green wire going to the connector. Turn the key off and check resistance between the ground and the other - Violet/Black - connector. There will be some resistance due to the bulb filaments but not infinate resistance.

Let us know what you find.

 

[JApol]

Since I'm positive that the backup lights are wired in parallel that you should only get a max of 4-5 ohms but more than 1. If there is less than one then you have a short.

 

[SSalzer]

I had the same thing happen on my 97 and my friend on his 02. Both were bad switches located on the top of the transmission.

 

[GBrock]

Thanks for all the input, guys. My electrician called in sick for the past few days. If he shows up tomorrow, I'll have him trace the short.



Thus far:



1) Checked fuse

2) Checked Rev lt switch on the trans

3) Checked the bulbs.



So it must be a short somewhere.



Again, thanks.

 

[MPlunkett]

Most every 2nd gen I've seen or drove had poor reverse lights. Even when they do work they flat out suck... ... I bolted two 50w halogens that are about 3" by 1" evenly on the rear bumper and installed a small rocker switch below the steering wheel. Works great, helps when hooking up trailers at night, boat ramps etc..... I wouldn't waste any more of your time trying to fix something that is marginal to begin with... ... my 2 cents

 

[Jeepmullet]

Most every 2nd gen I've seen or drove had poor reverse lights. Even when they do work they flat out suck... ... I bolted two 50w halogens that are about 3" by 1" evenly on the rear bumper and installed a small rocker switch below the steering wheel. Works great, helps when hooking up trailers at night, boat ramps etc..... I wouldn't waste any more of your time trying to fix something that is marginal to begin with... ... my 2 cents

I just started a similar project. I've got 55 watt low profile lights attached to the license plate illuminator light mounts. I used a relay and mounted it under the hood. The switch is right underneat the tilt wheel adjustor. I still need to do a better job of hiding the wires underneath the truck.