Reverse Lights

Manual transmission, SR5, 1999 4runner.
As you might have seen from earlier threads, I just had my clutch replaced.
Ever since, the back-up lights haven't been working.
I checked the fuse for the tail lights, and it's fine (10amp).
Is there a connection (reverse gear-to-electrical) that might have been missed by the mechanic when they were reassembling the clutch? If so, would it be relatively easy for me to check/fix on my own? I looked at the wiring diagram for the back-up light circuit in the Haynes manual, but I'm afraid I can't make much sense of it.

Thanks, and Happy New Year! :smile:
-steve

Ha, yeah, there is a switch that will read what gear the transmission is in. Which one that is, I couldn't tell you. I tried looking through some diagrams, and couldn't see it off hand.

Edit:

I found it. See if it is unplugged, or if the wiring is broken somehow.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q30/kbruington/tech/82165366.jpg

Hey kris!
Thanks. I found a section in the Haynes book that mentioned that switch earlier this morning (section 7A-4). I took a look at the switch, unplugged it, and plugged it back in. It's a two-pronged plug, and one of the prongs seemed a bit angled. I tried to straighten it and plug it back in. I had no one around who could check the lights for me, so I'll have to wait until tonight to see if that had any effect. The wires in the housing seemed to be ok as well.
If this doesn't work, then I suppose I'll move on to checking the bulbs. It seems odd that they would both go at the same time, though, and so close in time to the transmission change. Do you think that somehow a short got into the system from that switch and fried both bulbs? I figured the fuse would go first, but like I said, it was fine.

Hey kris!

If this doesn't work, then I suppose I'll move on to checking the bulbs. It seems odd that they would both go at the same time, though, and so close in time to the transmission change. Do you think that somehow a short got into the system from that switch and fried both bulbs? I figured the fuse would go first, but like I said, it was fine.


I would say unlikely, but there is always a possibility.

Take a paper clip or something and short the 2 pins in the connector on the harness together and check if the lights light. The ign sw needs to be ON for it to get power I think.

Oh yeah, make sure you have the correct switch. The REV light sw is on the tranny, the 4WD light sw is on the t-case.

Thanks everyone for your help. It looks like when I straightened out one of the prongs and cleaned them off that it did the trick. The lights are kicking on.

Good it wasn't anything major.