my reverse lights dont want to work

[cam7584]

i have a 95 gs and my reverse lights dont want to work. I know its not the bulb cause i replaced them as soon as i found out they werent working. Im thinking it might have something to do with the wiring but i dont really know how i would go about checking it. Anyone have any tips, tricks, or ideas. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[DOHCSIDE BOOST]

i have a 98 when i got the car mine worent working either, i changed the bulbs like you did and nothing, the ballast or whatever you wanna call it holding the bulbs was all dirty like moldy and stuff cause i get water in my reverse lights every time it rains but thats a diff story, anyways i cleaned them, the other thing you can do is get a voltage tester, i think they call them that, and put it in reverse and put the hand brake well if it's auto, if it's manual have someone help you have them have it in reverse and you test the current and see if your even getting power to the bulbs or sockets or ballasts or whatever you wanna call them, hope that helps.

 

[luv2rallye]

First check the backup light fuse.

If ok, buy a cheap $5 voltmeter from Radio Shack. Turn ignition to on (but don't start it) and put in reverse. Check voltage at the reverse light bulb socket (remove bulb) after cleaning off it's contacts. If 12 volts, then the bulb is not making good contact.

If no voltage, test one contact to ground and then other contact to ground. One of them should be 12 volts. If one is 12 volts make sure the other tests zero resistance to ground (open ground if not).

If neither is 12 volts, pull off the wire socket for the backup switch on the transmission and short the contacts in it. You should then have 12 volts at one of the contacts in the bulb socket to ground (which means your backup switch is then bad).

If you still don't have voltage, you have a broken wire/switch/fuse somewhere in the circuit. Remove shorting wire you put in backup switch and see if the voltage is there. If not keep moving back up the circuit towards the battery until you don't have voltage.

 

[Defiant]

Back up to your garage door in the dark. Turn on the power, but don't start the car. Put the shifter into reverse and wobble it around a bit. If you get a flicker, it's probably the transmission switch.

Oh, and it can be the bulbs- you'd lose one and not notice it until the second went.

I find these to be.... adequate...

 

[cam7584]

wow, thanks a lot for all your help guys, i appreciate it. I will try all the ideas you gave me this week and see if i can resolve the problem. Thanks again.

 

[Wheels-a-turnin]

make sure u didnt unplugg the sensor on the tranny somehow. I hate when stupid things like that happen and its so simple to fix but you never think of it.