850 No reverse lights - PNP switch? No diag code (?)

[Randy MacKenna]

I have a 1997 850GLT, and the reverse lights have quit working.
Sockets, bulbs and fuse are all good. I tried the 'cleaning' routine
of shifting rapidly from P to L about 20 times -- still no reverse
lights.

Q1: If the PNP switch is bad, should I expect the check engine light
to be on, and have a code available to read? I'm not getting any
codes, and the performance/operation of the car is normal.

Q2: Is it highly probable that the PNP switch is what I need to
replace, given that my reverse lights are not working, and the
bulbs/fuse check out okay?

I just hate to go through the PNP switch replacement if it might end
up not being the problem...

Thanks,
Randy

 

[Doug Warner]

I have a 1997 850GLT, and the reverse lights have quit working.
Sockets, bulbs and fuse are all good. I tried the 'cleaning' routine
of shifting rapidly from P to L about 20 times -- still no reverse
lights.

Q1: If the PNP switch is bad, should I expect the check engine light
to be on, and have a code available to read? I'm not getting any
codes, and the performance/operation of the car is normal.

No, since the contacts that control the reversing light are probably
separate from the ones the feed the TCU.

Q2: Is it highly probable that the PNP switch is what I need to
replace, given that my reverse lights are not working, and the
bulbs/fuse check out okay?

Yes, at least in my 94, the PNP switch controls the reversing lights.

I just hate to go through the PNP switch replacement if it might end
up not being the problem...

You could short the correct two pins together in the harness connector
for the PNP switch and see if the lights come on. Unfortuntely, I
wouldn't trust the pinout to match for the 94, unless the switches are
the same part #. If you can determine if it's the same, I can scan
the page that shows the pins for you.



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