The reverse lights are stuck on no matter where the shift lever is. What should I check?

 

The switch! It's on the transmission, at the linkage. It has a bunch of wires (6 or 7) going to it, it's black and shaped sorta like a quarter of a circle. sounds like it got wet inside with water or oil, maybe just lucas electric gremlins.

 

there is a roller switch in front of the shifter itself which turns the reverse lights ON when the shifter is moved to the R position. You need the factory service manual for the adjustment procedure, and a 4.5 mm socket and small ratchet to loosen and tighten the tiny bolts. To access the switch, the surround panel. also known as the Ski panel, where the twin chromed ashtrays and the power windows and sunroof switches are mounted to, a very involved job the first time you do it. I suggest you get sticky labels to mark every wiring plug and wires as they are disconnected from each switch.

 

This I did not know. Thanks Jose

 

amaezing, I am not sure but I think the transmission switch you mention came after 1984, so your 1985 has the switch mounted to the transmission. These switches are called Neutral Safety Switches. In early Series 3 they also control the Speed / Cruise control. I think Doug knows when the change to transmission-mounted switches took place or if all years have both switches. All I know is that I adjust my reverse lights and cruise from the roller switch in front of the shifter.

 

Yea, it's the neutral safety. It goes control reverse lights as well. I wouldn't doubt that it controls cruise either.

 

I dunno the break point from shifter-mounted reverse light switch to the trans mount switch. I've worked on 85-86-87 models which all had transmission mounted. I've worked on 79-80-81 models which all had the shifter-mounted switch. In any case, all had at least one switch that allowed cruise control to operate on in "D" only.


Cheers
DD

 

I think it is safe to assume the change came during production of the 1985 models. Curiously, the same identical thing was done during the S type production from 1963 to 1968, the later cars came with a transmision-mounted neutral-reverse switch, while the early cars had the switch at the shifter.

 

I don't think the back up lights are operated by one of the micro switches on the front of the shift tower.


One some, it is a combo switch on the side of the transmission.
Enables back up amps and nhibits start in any position other than N or P.


On others, a micro switch on the front of the tower inhibits start in anything other than P or N. A similar switch is there that inhibits Cruise in any postion but D,


So, if the back up lamp switch isn't on the transmission, it is
a similar switch on the side of the shift tower.


Model years. I've no clue.


Carl

 

Carl, mine has a 3 wire micro switch, I call it a roller switch because of the rolling nylon wheels, but no switch at the tranny, nada, zero, not even wiring down there or evidence of wiring. I adjust the reverse lights at the micro switch with the shifter in R.