My reverse lights dont work

[rh_334]

well ever since ive had my car its always been difficult to see backing up, i always have to roll down the window. i jus assumed it was because of dim bulbs becuase i have seen conv about how dim they are well tonight i decided to take some pics to compare the brightness b4 and after i have my tails painted and couldnt get them to come on. with the headlights on switch turned on and in reverse they did nothing
so i cranked the car and occationally they flickered and i actually got them to stay on once, and they are surprizingly bright but as soon as i cut the car off even with the switch turn and headlights one they went off:mad:
the way it flickered as i started to put it in gear it has to be something around the shifter. prolly something loose from installing my clutch.
has anyone else had this prob? any ideas? im not fimilar with the switch on the shifter

[NissanEgg]

They will only light up in with the key turned on and in reverse, no matter if you have the lights on or not.
Sounds like the reverse switch maybe bad or the connector on the reverse switch isn't very tight. The switch has to be disconnected to drop the tranny for a clutch change.

[rh_334]

They will only light up in with the key turned on and in reverse, no matter if you have the lights on or not.
Sounds like the reverse switch maybe bad or the connector on the reverse switch isn't very tight. The switch has to be disconnected to drop the tranny for a clutch change.

its prolly loose then

[NissanEgg]

Yeah, check that first. Just check all connectors in the tranny area while you are under there just to be safe.

[BRAD@ZSOLUTIONS]

They will only light up in with the key turned on and in reverse, no matter if you have the lights on or not.
Sounds like the reverse switch maybe bad or the connector on the reverse switch isn't very tight. The switch has to be disconnected to drop the tranny for a clutch change.

ditto;) Ive got a switch if u need one

[rh_334]

ditto;) Ive got a switch if u need one

alright, ill try to find time next week to get to that connector.

i remember undoing a connector or 2 but dont really remember where can either of you describe were the connector i need to get to is?

[BRAD@ZSOLUTIONS]

alright, ill try to find time next week to get to that connector.

i remember undoing a connector or 2 but dont really remember where can either of you describe were the connector i need to get to is?

I belive its on the top right

[rh_334]

I belive its on the top right

can you access it from the top? if i take the shifter out? or would it be easier to feel for it from the bottom

[NissanEgg]

No, just jack up the right side of the car, put jack stands under it before you crawl under it. Just reach up on the right/left side of the trans near where the shifter is and you should find it. Watch your arms for hot exhaust pipes.

[rh_334]

No, just jack up the right side of the car, put jack stands under it before you crawl under it. Just reach up on the right/left side of the trans near where the shifter is and you should find it. Watch your arms for hot exhaust pipes.

good advice


thanks for the help

[rh_334]

im about to go crawl under it and check connections, but the more i think about it i think its going to be a bad switch because i could only even get them to flicker when i had the car running. more voltage got them to flicker so thats usually a switch .. but we will see.

[rh_334]

well all the connections were good but i wiggled them around and made no difference. lookslike its gonna be the switch. Can any of the experts tell me which one it is? i have a good idea but i HOPE im wrong. one is blue and the other is black.

[ghostdriver]

you did already check the connections at the tail lights and related fuses right?

[rh_334]

you did already check the connections at the tail lights and related fuses right?

fuses yes... but i dont think it could be the connection at the light because both of them arent working, and its a plug n play connector so if it was a connection prob it would likely only be once light and i wouldnt have any light

[rh_334]

justin? brad?

[NissanEgg]

If your connections are good, check the bulbs, also check to see if you have to power at the bulb socket with the key on and in reverse. I am not sure what fuse the reverse bulbs get power from, but usually Nissan groups some systems together on one fuse. So if the fuse was bad, likely something else would not be working too.

Also check to see if any ground wires are loose up under the car around the engine and trans. I had a 95 Altima come into today that the brake lights didn't work. When you pressed the brakes, the tag lights lit up. Turned out the grounds for the bulb panel were loose and back feeding through the tag lights.

[rh_334]

If your connections are good, check the bulbs, also check to see if you have to power at the bulb socket with the key on and in reverse. I am not sure what fuse the reverse bulbs get power from, but usually Nissan groups some systems together on one fuse. So if the fuse was bad, likely something else would not be working too.

Also check to see if any ground wires are loose up under the car around the engine and trans. I had a 95 Altima come into today that the brake lights didn't work. When you pressed the brakes, the tag lights lit up. Turned out the grounds for the bulb panel were loose and back feeding through the tag lights.

i checked the grounds i took out the tails and all the grounds were tight.

i was wondering what color the switch on the tranny is there are 2 one is blue and the other black. i think i know which one it is but i hope im wrong

[NissanEgg]

Not sure which is which.

Do a continuity test on both switches just to make sure. Set the meter to ohms/resistance and probe both terminals with key off and disconnect the connectors (key off helps keep from throwing codes). Check it with it in nuetral and then in reverse. If it doesn't change readings, then the switch would be bad, but rarely do they go bad and on such a newish car.

[BRAD@ZSOLUTIONS]

i checked the grounds i took out the tails and all the grounds were tight.

i was wondering what color the switch on the tranny is there are 2 one is blue and the other black. i think i know which one it is but i hope im wrong

Ill look friday. I belive its the blue one. I just got home from work bnut ill look tommorow K?

[rh_334]

Ill look friday. I belive its the blue one. I just got home from work bnut ill look tommorow K?

damnit

thats what i was afraid of. but check tomorow if you can.

it looks like you cant get to the blue one without droping the tranny... am i correct? but it looks like the one that would be the gear indicator

[NissanEgg]

it looks like you cant get to the blue one without droping the tranny... am i correct?

You aren't trying hard enough. :humpsheep:

[rh_334]

You aren't trying hard enough. :humpsheep:

i didnt really try at alll but i could barely touch the damn thing! some i figured tht if it is the blue one i can live without reverse lights:D