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Someone mentioned to me in a parking lot the other day, "hey, your reverse lights aren't working." I swapped in a new pair of bulbs but still no dice, so started following the wiring back from the sockets. Found this at the hinge point for the rear tailgate after unwrapping the harness, three wires broken so cleanly it looked like someone had taken wire cutters to them. This was right at the flex point, and they clearly just fatigued from the thousands of cycles over 23 years.
When I searched here about reverse lights, lots of folks mentioning their gauge fuse blows immediately when going to reverse, this could definitely be a likely culprit for that, as if they hadn't broken so cleanly they could be touching each other or grounding out on the body.
Fixed this up and back in business!
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I haven't, but I appreciate you letting me know in case it happens to me! I might replace that section of wiring with some new high flex wire as PM, since I often look at that on my '99 and wonder how long it will be until it fails.This happened to me about two years ago… No backup lights and I found 3 wires broken…
But with the added benefit of the Cruiser having only 1st gear while going forward… In some way, shape or form, the broken reverse lights wires did not give the proper signal back to the PCM and the transmission control module would not allow anything other than first gear when going forward. Reverse, neutral and park worked just fine.
Repaired the wiring by cutting each of 3 broken wires back well beyond the flex point on each side and soldering in new 16ga wiring with heat shrink over the splice point. I loomed it up with fabric tape inside the tailgate.
With the reverse lights wiring repaired, the transmission began behaving properly again. And the reverse lights worked once again.
Zero issues since…
Anyone else experienced this transmission behavior when those reverse lights wires were broken?
Zero issues for me when those three wires were broken other than the reverse lights being inop, my truck is a 99. At first I wondered if you have a 5 speed trans, but see that you have an 02, so that's an odd one. I suppose maybe something else is on that circuit in the newer trucks, anything aftermarket wired in to yours? Mine is all stock.This happened to me about two years ago… No backup lights and I found 3 wires broken…
But with the added benefit of the Cruiser having only 1st gear while going forward… In some way, shape or form, the broken reverse lights wires did not give the proper signal back to the PCM and the transmission control module would not allow anything other than first gear when going forward. Reverse, neutral and park worked just fine.
Repaired the wiring by cutting each of 3 broken wires back well beyond the flex point on each side and soldering in new 16ga wiring with heat shrink over the splice point. I loomed it up with fabric tape inside the tailgate.
With the reverse lights wiring repaired, the transmission began behaving properly again. And the reverse lights worked once again.
Zero issues since…
Anyone else experienced this transmission behavior when those reverse lights wires were broken?
When did you order those T's? I don't see them on their website.Replaced Heater Tees and added an AC drain extension from Cruiser Garage.
The driver side tee was leaking on the bottom side at first when I cranked the car. Had to move the hose clamp down towards the bottom of the fitting close to the lip. Could’ve been a disaster if I didn’t test it.View attachment 3190649OEM tees were actually in great shape
View attachment 3190650
View attachment 3190651
Nothing else wired into the backup light circuit.Zero issues for me when those three wires were broken other than the reverse lights being inop, my truck is a 99. At first I wondered if you have a 5 speed trans, but see that you have an 02, so that's an odd one. I suppose maybe something else is on that circuit in the newer trucks, anything aftermarket wired in to yours? Mine is all stock.
Wild, I agree that would have been my guess too. I think I just got lucky my wires decided to break so cleanly. I'd think an intermittent short there could cause all kinds of downstream issues. I'm surprised more haven't had this issue, or at least haven't posted about it. Every vehicle has some flex point like this, trunk hinge, hatch, etc. where with enough age and cycles whatever wiring passing through will have some issues.Nothing else wired into the backup light circuit.
When this whole thing occurred, The transmission shifting issue was intermittent… it would wait until I got across town, and then decide to give me only first gear... perfect timing… That is when I noticed that the back up lights did not work.
As I recall, when I attempted a forensic examination of the transmission not shifting issue, I figured that maybe the back up light power wire was intermittently shorting out to another adjacent broken wire. But no blown fuse. And perhaps the powertrain control module saw 12v coming back on a wire without seeing signal from the transmission reverse solenoid. WAG I know, but after repairing the backup lights wiring, the transmission malfunction disappeared completely.
Have not had ANY transmission issues since.
When this issue occurred, I did not raise the point on this forum for fear of sounding like a newbie. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this IH8MUD forum is one huge community of people, like me, who love their rigs, and only want to share experiences and help others.
It was a CRAZY issue though.
Hi All. I recently put a swing out arm on the rear where I mounted my spare. Just now realized it hides the backup lights! Anyone know if it will pass inspection in NC and if not can I but back up lights elsewhere on the rear so it will pass inspection? Thoughts?
Nice! Any issues with inspection?Not the cleanest install or the best protected location, but I just surface-mounted some to mine.
View attachment 3193145
I don't know the answer to your question, but I have long wondered about the liability of obscuring brake lights, running lights, and turn signals with s*** mounted on rear bumpers. I can't fathom how it's legal, and how people are comfortable with the liability of manufacturing and using those setups.Hi All. I recently put a swing out arm on the rear where I mounted my spare. Just now realized it hides the backup lights! Anyone know if it will pass inspection in NC and if not can I but back up lights elsewhere on the rear so it will pass inspection? Thoughts?
Nice! Any issues with inspection?
In Michigan, mirrors and lights are you only need 2 operating in view. Since we have the overhead brake light and one side would be visible, this is legal here. Same with mirrors, you can remove your review mirror or a side mirror, so long as you have 2 on the vehicle.I don't know the answer to your question, but I have long wondered about the liability of obscuring brake lights, running lights, and turn signals with s*** mounted on rear bumpers. I can't fathom how it's legal, and how people are comfortable with the liability of manufacturing and using those setups.
Looks great! LSeat dove grey? I just ordered mine a couple weeks agoNew front seat leather. Just did seat bottoms, will need to drive some miles to shine it up. Next up, heater Ts and hoses.View attachment 3181699
No idea, the seat guy just matched the grey with his samples and that’s that. I’ll call the shop and ask…a little language barrier-but they speak more English than I speak Spanish so it’s my deficit!Looks great! LSeat dove grey? I just ordered mine a couple weeks ago