reverse lights / back up lights

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Topic author
illbdipt
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:44 am

reverse lights / back up lights

Post by illbdipt »

back up lights not working on my 1965 j3000 , 3 speed transmission - shifter on the column. is there a switch in the column or on the transmission ??
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tgreese
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 am
Location: Medford MA USA

Re: reverse lights / back up lights

Post by tgreese »

Should be on the transmission. The top-shift 3-speeds have a switch on the shift top. Suggest you take the floor panel up and take a look.

With a column shift, there are no shift rails on the top of the transmission, so according to the parts book the switch is located on the toe panel (whatever that means). I'd guess this means the switch is on the floorboard somewhere and is activated by the shift linkage. No picture.

If you look at the wiring harness, you should be able to find the harness that goes to the backup light switch, branching off somewhere on the firewall. Then follow that down to the switch.

Sorry this is kind of vague ... but there's no reference to the column in the parts book. This says (to me) that the switch should be somewhere down by the transmission.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
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tgreese
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:31 am
Location: Medford MA USA

Re: reverse lights / back up lights

Post by tgreese »

I'd also mention that back-up lights were not required by law in 1965. If you have them, they would be added as an option (which I'm not certain was even offered by Jeep) or something added. Or they may have an operator-activated switch, not on the linkage.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.

Topic author
illbdipt
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:44 am

Re: reverse lights / back up lights

Post by illbdipt »

thanks for the info, will look things over and get to the bottom if it
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