Reverse Lights / Back Up Switch

[Bang Bang]

Ok boys and girls...I have researched the hell out of this subject and can't find the info I need. First and foremost, I know this is going to be a STUPID question but I have no choice. I am new to the 40 and the lingo so....I have read that to get to the back up switch it is best to remove the tranny tunnel. I know what the tranny is but what the hell is the tunnel? Do I really have to pull the transmission to get to this switch? There has to be an easier way...
Flame me for my stupidity but please don't tell me to search for it....I have!!
I need to get the reverse lights working as my inspection tag expired last month and the cops around here diligently look for this type of thing so I can't drive it right now. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Pull plate at top of cruiser,in cab where your shift lever is,seems like there is 4 bolts. Mike

 

[F-junker]

The tunnel is that humpy thing in the middle of the floor, where the shifters stick out.
You need to:
unbolt and remove the seats
remove the gas tank or move it out of the way to reach some of the 10mm bolts.
Use plenty of liquid wrench (penetrating oil) to loosen the bolts and let them soak, spray them underneath the truck tub and inside. LET THEM SOAK OVERNIGHT!!
Unbolt or unscrew the shifter boots, unscrew the knobs.
You should be able to remove the tunnel now.

behind the transmission shifter is a switch screwed into the tranny with wires coming out, remove it. replace it. hook the wires back up. check it to see if it works. I believe it has a ball bearing stuffed in the end of it. they are expensive from toyota. I bought one and never installed it.
put all the stuff back in. good luck have fun and try not to break off too many of those tunnel bolts, don't over work them too much torque and they'll snap off. if they do drill and tap them out

 

[Bang Bang]

WOW!! Thanks guys. That is the info I needed. Sounds like this is going to be a fun project.

BTW F-junker, that is exactly the type of "talk to me like I'm an idiot because I am" explanation that I need!

 

[dargreg]

Not very seldom does the switch screw up are you sure there isnt a broken wire from the switch to the harness or maybe its just pulled apart.

 

[Bang Bang]

At this point I was just starting to gather the info I may need so I don't have to start and stop and start and stop. I am going to take a meter to the lights tomorrow and work my way back to the switch but I wanted to be armed with the info. I hope you are right and it's not the switch. Thanks.

 

[dargreg]

Fairly easy to find just reach up on top of the tranny there is a pig tail about a foot long where with single push in plugs 2 of them .You can pull them apart put it in reverse and see if you have continuity between them if not the switch is gone or a wire broke off the back of the switch.If you get continuity the switch is good.

 

[DSRTRDR]

when we required my cruiser, we went at that switch from below - takes a bit of doing but not impossible