I have a 68' Dodge dart ( 270 automatic) and I'm trying to figure out why my back up lights aren't working. First of all when do they come on? I'm guessing that they're supposed to fire up when I put the car in reverse ..it's not a manual switch I hit or anything. I've checked the fuses and they all check out fine, I put in brand new bulbs, but still the Bck-up lights are a "no show".

I can say that the brake/rear turn signal lights work fine, the rear side marker lights also work, as well as the license plate light too. The only light in the back that's not working is the bck-up. Now I'm no electrical wizard but I can tackle this problem if some good folks out there can help steer me in the right direction ..so what are some things I can start check/testing?

The bakup lights are actuated by a switch on the transmission.

Make sure its plugged in and your linkage is properly aligned.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

If you have column shift, the backup lights might be actuated be a mechanical switch at the bottom of the column (inside the car). I don't remember exactly when they went from that style switch to the back-up light/neutral safety switch Sandy was referring to (somewhere around 68 or so).

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65 Dart station wagon slant 6 - now under construction
47 Dodge Custom 4 Door sedan
87 D100 Short Bed slant 6

Retired USAF 1966-1986
Retired US Postal Service 2004-2014

By 68 the reverse lights were triggered by the neutral start switch (aka neutral safety switch) on the transmission. If the engine only starts in park or neutral, then check that the reverse lights are properly grounded and have good bulbs. Check the wiring on the NSS plug as well.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Paying forward info gleaned from the many wise folks on this site....

Following from the first fuse in the block (a red wire w/ tracer) to the switch on the auto trans (look carefully, both auto and manual switches at on this diagram), from the tranny switch a violet wire goes to the back up lights.

It is reasonable to assume (but no guarantee) that the bulb has a path to ground for the electrons to flow.

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=27

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1968/68DartA.jpg

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/1968/68DartB.jpg

Let us know how you make out....

'69 was the first year for the 3-pin combination neutral safety / reverse lamp switch screwed into the transmission. Up to '68 the switch on the trans was a 1-pin item, only for neutral safety; the reverse lamp switch is a mechanical device perched atop the steering column under the dash. The switch is mounted with screws through slotted holes so it can be adjusted to put the lights on when the shifter is in Reverse.

Power path is +12v --> fuse --> reverse lamp switch --> reverse lamps.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Whoops! Thanks for correcting that Dan. I thought for sure by 68 the NSS was the three pin. Sorry for the confusion.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

oops!....manual trans guys should not post to 904 questions.

at least the check linkage part was ok.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I'll check some of these tomorrow Thanks

Also check the simple stuff (bulbs...)

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I looked under the dash on top of the steering column for the reverse lamp switch. I think I found it down next to the firwall, but I took some pics so that other more learned folks could varify.

IF indeed this is the switch then if you notice in the pics, 2 purple/violet wires are coming from the top of the steering column from some block and run down a bit to a black connetor plug ..a female side it looks to be of the connector. There is an small paper-like wrap going around those 2 wires with the letters BP written on it. The "male" side of that connector plug is "plugged in" and it has 2 wires that come from it, a white one and a purple/violet one, and as you can see they have both been cut.
My question is if again, this is the bck-up switch, and these cut wires are responsible for the problem then where were these cut wires originally going? I've looked over the wiring diagram but it can get a little confusing when lining up on paper what you see in the car. Basically if I knew where to re-connect these cut wires and that is the solution, then hopefully someone can tell me where they go ...but look the pics over and see if it's anything Thanks
IMG_0281 by BionicSix, on Flickr
IMG_0282 by BionicSix, on Flickr
IMG_0284 by BionicSix, on Flickr
IMG_0283 by BionicSix, on Flickr

Hookem up and see.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

That's the correct switch. Good luck finding the other ends of the wires. I would check around the radio. I've seen people steal power from strange places.

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Joshua

I don't know where they hook up to, and as far as the radio the original is gone ...proir owner replaced with a newer cd player/radio. Sounds like from responses so far, I've a t least found the right place and the problem. That's good.

I'm looking over my wiring diagram trying to figure out starting at that male side of the connector ( that has the cut wires dangling from it ) and going away from the bck-up switch, where the white and violet wires originally connected. Did they run from there to the fuse block? Does anyone know where they go, where I need to re-connect them? I can be a dummy about these wiring issues, so go slow

Those wires are likely still under the dash. Make sure that new radio isn't "borrowing" one of the wires for power.

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Joshua