I got pulled over one night because my reverse lights are on while i am driving. my short term solution was just unscrewing the bulbs.
I assume there is just a wire touching somewhere, a connection is off, or that it's a ground problem. My problem lies here: where in the world is the wiring for the reverse lights? I've never seen a car that was wired so obscurely.
Any advise on where to look? My chilton has not helped.
Thanks! Hil
electrical problem, 1990 240 DL
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Kmaniac in California USA
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According to my Haynes Service Manual, the reverse light circuit is very simple and very little can go wrong with it. First, it consists of a Blue with Red Stripe (BL-R) wire from fuse #12 in the fuse box to the reverse light switch. Then it consists of a Black (SB) wire from the reverse light switch to the taillight assemblies.
First, do you have an automatic or manual transmission? If you have an automatic transmission, the Starter Inhibitor/Reverse Light switch assembly is mounted to the shift mechanism inside the console. You will need to remove the top of the console around the shifter to gain access. If you have a manual transmission, the switch is mounted in the top cover of the transmission case. You will need to partially unbolt and lower the transmission to gain access.
Before you start taking your car apart, you will need to do a little trouble-shooting to figure out if it is a bad switch or bad wiring. It is possible, yet highly unlikely, that the grounding wires for both your taillight assemblies are not grounded correctly. The grounding wires are black wires that bolt to the car body near the light assemblies. If both of these grounds are bad at the same time, and the wire for the reverse lights is damaged and grounding against the car body, other taillight circuits could ground through the reverse light circuit, causing the bulbs to light up when the are not suppose to. I suggest you put the reverse light bulbs back into the sockets and perform the following tests in the order listed.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in each gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the reverse light switch is stuck ON and needs replacement. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights ON, fog lights OFF (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in every gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the taillight circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights ON, fog lights ON (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the rear fog light circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*), the brake lights ON (someone will have to sit in the driver's seat with their foot on the brake) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in each gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the brake light circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*), each turn signal ON (take turns on each side) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on or blinking in each gear. If the reverse lights are on or blinking in every gear, the problem is that one or both turn signal light circuits is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, I will need to thing about this some more.
(*) Fog Lights
First, do you have an automatic or manual transmission? If you have an automatic transmission, the Starter Inhibitor/Reverse Light switch assembly is mounted to the shift mechanism inside the console. You will need to remove the top of the console around the shifter to gain access. If you have a manual transmission, the switch is mounted in the top cover of the transmission case. You will need to partially unbolt and lower the transmission to gain access.
Before you start taking your car apart, you will need to do a little trouble-shooting to figure out if it is a bad switch or bad wiring. It is possible, yet highly unlikely, that the grounding wires for both your taillight assemblies are not grounded correctly. The grounding wires are black wires that bolt to the car body near the light assemblies. If both of these grounds are bad at the same time, and the wire for the reverse lights is damaged and grounding against the car body, other taillight circuits could ground through the reverse light circuit, causing the bulbs to light up when the are not suppose to. I suggest you put the reverse light bulbs back into the sockets and perform the following tests in the order listed.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in each gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the reverse light switch is stuck ON and needs replacement. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights ON, fog lights OFF (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in every gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the taillight circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights ON, fog lights ON (*) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the rear fog light circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*), the brake lights ON (someone will have to sit in the driver's seat with their foot on the brake) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on in each gear. If the reverse lights are on in every gear, the problem is that the brake light circuit is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, continue.
With the ignition key in the ON/RUN position, engine off, parking brake set, headlights OFF, fog lights OFF (*), each turn signal ON (take turns on each side) and with the transmission in each gear, look to see if the reverse lights are on or blinking in each gear. If the reverse lights are on or blinking in every gear, the problem is that one or both turn signal light circuits is grounding through the reverse light wiring. If they light only in reverse, I will need to thing about this some more.
(*) Fog Lights
Chris the "K MANIAC"
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
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