Mike_Montalbano

I am currently having reverse light problems. When I go into reverse (Manuel Tans) they do not come on unless i push the shifter over very hard to the right. I have checked all of the wiring, the fuse, and I have replaced the reverse sensor and made it as tight as it would go. When replacing the reverse sensor it came with the wrong adapter so I had to cut the wires and use the old one. I don't know if that could cause any problems just thought it should be said. Does anyone know what could be the cause of this and how to fix it?

Thank you

87' 300zx Turbo
Manuel Transmission

zxguy1986

Welcome to ZDriver

Yeah, it's that switch on/in the tranny. Mine was dead in my '86 turbo and I think the first replacement I bought was aftermarket (Chinese prob) and it didn't fit right or didn't work. We then checked and tested every possible harness connection to make sure we had power from that switch to the lights - but since your lights come on when you fiddle with the stick position, it's definitely that switch.

I forget whether we rebuilt the old switch or reconfigured the new one, but we got it right eventually. My helper is a mech genius. When a part can be rebuilt or repurposed, he just does it, top of his head. Lights work great now Keep at it. Sounds to me like you're digging in the right place.

Mike_Montalbano

Okay so i further looked at it and it looks like i replaced the neutral position switch and not the reverse light switch. How did you replace the reverse lights switch? It is very hard to get to and I cant fit a socket wrench up there or an open end wrench.

zxguy1986

Good Q. My genius mech got so ticked off at the replacement I bought that he sent me off to the recycler's to get a Nissan OEM replacement from a junker. While I was doing that he got the Z off the ground enough to trace down everything from underneath and get better access to the tranny. That was when he decided to re-engineer the Chinese switch and somehow got it on there to work right. When I got back with the OEM part from a junker, my Z was on the ground and working right.

He worked a lot with the Factory Service Manual I gave him (you can get it free at XenonZcar.com Z31 1984-1989 300zx Reference (Check out that site for the other free downloads avail.) With the manuals, you should be able to figure out how the reverse lights get told that the tranny is in reverse so light up already. Also where everything is located. The electrical diags, if you can read them, are easier to use if you take them to a copy shop and have them printed on 11x17. Even the big phone screens are useless for that.

Keep at it! You need those lights to work

ken99

I thought zguy1986 had replaced his reverse light switch with a Ford Mustang replacement part since the 84-86 turbo transmission is actually a Borg Warner T5. Doesn't apply here, the 87 model year was a transition away from the T5 to the stouter FS5R30A in turbo cars. Nissan dealerships may have this part since I think derivatives of the 30A are still in production.