Hi,

I have a 1993 240 sedan and the back up lights do not work. The bulbs are good so I wonder if the switch could be bad. The previous owner had the tranny dropped to replace the rear main seal on the motor. Maybe the switch was unplugged. How can I get to the switch and how is it wired?

Thanks

I'm back but without good news. I checked the bulbs, holders, and circuit boards again and everything looks fine. I pulled the cover off of the shifter and had a look. I tried adjusting it a bit but there was not much travel. I cannot quite figure out how the switch works or if anything is wrong.

I put up some pics of the my shifter. Please have a look and tell me if you see anything wrong.

http://www.mindspring.com/~macbus/shifter/

Thanks
Chris

Posted this awhile back. If it's not the Neutral Safety switch, then try this procedure. Hope it all works out...


The safety neutral switch is found underneath the shifter cover which is held in by two screws. You do not need to take this switch out if your only adjusting the white pointer with the park and neutral marks (shown on the black switch housing). Loosen the two screws on the housing slighty, then adjust the switch and pointer. It's very easy, but may take a few tries.
In my case, my backlights didn't work for 3 years. I'd try this before you mess with that switch... open that trunk up and access the lights. Unscrew the backup light bulb holder from lighting. There will be a copper metal ring attached to the green circuit board. Use a fine grit sand paper and gently clean the copper ring. Also do this with the bulb holder spring tabs. Have you ever noticed when washing your car that water will almost always collect in the backup light? Water causes a bad electrical connection point from the bulb holder socket and that copper ring. When I did this, the lights worked after that! I only had to clean the left hand side, but did them both instead.
Another thing to consider cleaning with the sand paper is the ground wire.
Yet another solution is to take that small white/clear plastic wire connector off and open it up with the tip of a small knife. Now, wires are exposed... there will be wires and small "teeth-like" clamps on the end. Take each wire out at a time and use some needle nose pliers to crimp them tighter just a little bit. This will make the connector wires hold better to the circuit board. After this procedure, I haven't had any nagging taillight problems yet in a year and going. G-luck!
--
Michael 'Street'... one AZ '85 244DL 192K miles
--
Michael 'Street'... one AZ '85 244DL 195K miles

Just in case you have a manual transmission the switch is accessed from below the car. It is on top of the trans, toward the front of the car, and on the left side. Two wires clip to the switch, and they fall off very easily.
If you have an automatic, the other two posts apply.
After five years of no lights, I've managed to get mine working maybe 50% of the time. I call that good enough.

Logan
--
1981 242GLTi 1967.5 122S Automatic (tempermental)

hello yes under the shifter cover.on the right side loosen the two screws and move the slide part, a little at a time until lights go on.that worked for me.good luck.

If I recall correctly, the backup light switch and neutral safety are together in one unit located beside the shifter under the shifter "console" on the floor of the car.

It's pretty easy to get at and you can try adjusting it some, but if it has failed it's not that hard to replace.

Hope this helps.

Greg P.