I'm having a problem getting my replacement backup light switch working which is mounted on the bell huosing of my 80 280zx. I recently purchased this vehicle and noticed that the backup lights where not working so I removed and tested the switch and found it to be defective. I bought a new switch and installed it however it's not work properly. The problem goes something like this.... when I connect the electrical leads to the switch with power to the switch and depress the pin on the switch unmounted on the vehicle the backup lights will function properly, however when the switch is mounted to the bell housing with power to the switch the backup lights stay on and will not go out unless you turn the ignition off? At first I thought it was not working properly because I forgot to install the brass washer (Spacer) but I reinstalled and I am still having the same problem like the pin on the switch is being depressed when installed. Should I remove and install another spacer washer to shim it out a little further? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Phil

 

Have you compared the old & new switch to see if there are any differences?
Have you done this test on the old switch as well?

 

Yes, I did preform the same function tests on the old switch, It would not light the lamp at all and I noticed that the pin/spring assy. on the old one was very hard to depress.... like it had a catch in it! The new switch is a factory Nissan replacement part. I'm assuming that there is some sort of linkage on the threaded port area that depresses the pin when the vehicle is engaged in reverse?

 

I don't have anything to add. But if you do figure this out. It could help me, because my backup lights haven't worked since I have had my Z.

 

The usual culprit is a loose or disconnected wire on the switch... it gets corroded or ripped off. Start w/ checking that.

 

Car Wiring & Switch Wiring are in good working order! The Switch is new and works fine as I said when I depress it manually...... I'm going to try another shim for clearance and see how it goes.