A little puzzled

[miller]

Not that big a deal, but maybe get an idea what to look for.

It's on my 64 Sport Fury...the back-up lights. When I start the car, 727 trans in park, the back-up lights are on. As soon as I move the shifter, they go out, even back into park, they stay off. Yes, the lights work in reverse. A little irritating, why their on, when I start.

Have to explain my non-stock shifter...it came with the car, and I made it work. Shifter is a slap-stick out of a 70ish Olds 442. I modified the mount base, made changes to the linkage hook-up, and fitted shift linkage to it all. 727 is a 67 model, shifter is a console mount.
What I did for the back-up lights switch, is mounted a micro switch, and a trip lever, weighted on one end. The lever rests in the off position, doesn't move, until the shifter itself is in reverse.

Can't find any reason, the lights come on, until I shift. Doesn't make sense. Any ideas?

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Makes no sense.....so you must have a loose/bare wire or a switch that has gone funky on you. Start looking at the shifter (highly modified, first place I'd look) and see if you can swap out that switch OR look for wires that have touched something and got a bare spot on them.

I don't know that shifter/wiring, just a general place I would start if it were me.

 

[conv67bdere]

That's very odd indeed . . .

- - What happens if you shift to Neutral - and then back into Park - and then start the car
- - does that cause the lights to go out
- - my thought is a mechanical "thing" that happens as a result of moving the shifter

Maybe a picture of the switch set up - not quite following how you've got that set up . . .

 

[bearman]

Take wire off the switch headed to backup lights. Use your volt on the switch see when the power goes off when the switched engaged. It could be the level on the switch holding it in enough to pass flow thru it. Might need to make small adjustment on the lever or bracket

 

[Moparstyle]

Check your grounds do one step at a time dont do 5 at a time electrical is just a process of elimination

 

[miller]

- - What happens if you shift to Neutral - and then back into Park - and then start the car

That's a thought...next time I start, I'll try it. As far as what happens, when, the connection only seems at initial start up. After that, it all works exactly as it should.

Maybe a picture of the switch set up - not quite following how you've got that set up . .

Yep. I'll have to open up the console, and get a pic. Really pretty simple, how it's set up. Wiring is plain jane, power wire to the switch, and out to feed the lights. Switch is momentary with a arm that has to be moved down to make connection. The trip lever I made is steel, weighted on one end, and when the shifter is in reverse, a pin moves the lever, moving the arm on the switch.

 

[miller]

Welp...here's some pics. Sorry, not the best. I'd have to pull the entire console, to be able to see it all.

First pic, is what the shifter itself looks like. The shift ball is pushed down, to go through the gears. It's spring loaded, and off a rod that's located inside the shifter, a short pin locates the various shift points, along the gate.
Second pic, is looking at the shift gate, the pin, and the trip arm. Trip arm is weighted on the front end (that's not in the pic), and rests on the micro switch arm. In the pic, the shifter and pin are in neutral. If it was in reverse, the shift ball and pin goes down, and when released, the pin contacts the end of the trip lever, that activates the micro switch.
Third pic, is the same type micro switch used.

 

[Shorthorse]

Might just be the switch itself. Doesn't work properly after setting but clears up when used a little bit. Just a guess.

 

[miller]

Appreciate that, Shorthorse! Could be right, switch button hanging up a little. Get some run time on it, might straighten up. Had to be certain, for clearance, and operate the way it needed to. So, fairly sure no issues there.

Thanks, guys!

 

[bearman]

I have used those type of switches before. Was not very happy the result was to remove it and used a different type which was a ball style

 

[miller]

Thanks, bearman. With this shifter, I felt a little limited on what type of switch could be used, and mounted. I'll stick with it for awhile, to see how it holds up.

 

[bearman]

Good luck miller hope you get it figured out.