AboutSkip Bollinger Expertise Heretofore, I will NOT answer any mechanical question. I am not qualified and can only offer speculations. You are better served by others that are true Techs. With that being said, please only ask about parts and locating obsolete Auto Parts. Thank you.
I have the ability to locate quite a few mechanical parts for American made vehicles fron the 1900`s to present. Some are OEM and some are aftermarket. This would include engine, brake and chassis parts. Body parts and trim are VERY difficult to find but you may inquire.
If you need assistance in repair, I have illustrated books for major American manufacturers that show some illustrations BEFORE 1974. If needed, I can supply repair manuals for your specific vehicle.
PLEASE REMEBER I'M A PARTS SPECIALIST, NOT A TECH!! Thank you..
Skip
Experience
Past/Present clients Too many to list but they run from Europe through America and to Australia.
Question QUESTION: Once in a while my backup lights will briefly turn on when I put the car in reverse so I know the light/bulbs are good., otherwise I have no backup lights. Is this generally a function of the neutral switch?
Thanks!
David
ANSWER: David,
Thank you for your question. Please remember I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech. This is the person you should be asking but as long as we are here, I'll give you my thoughts.
Yes, you are correct, usually. You do not give me a Year, Make or Model of vehicle. This is VERY important information when requesting assistance for your vehicle. My opinion is totally speculation without knowing what we are working on, Okay??
You say the lights come on. That tells us the lights AND the switch are both working. Wouldn't you agree? The switch is good since the lights come on and the lights are good since they come on. What is left? Linkage adjustment is all that is left. Look at the linkage going to the switch. Shorten it and test. Lengthen it and test. The problem has to be in the linkage. Everything else works.
I hope this gives you some direction. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you an exact fix but I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech. Good luck and hope you get the problem fixed.
Skip
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Skip,
Thanks for your reply. The car is a 1978 Mustang II 302 with a C4
transmission. I'm not clear on whether the neutral switch affects the backup
lights or not. The backup lights only flash on then off, if at all, when I put the
car in reverse. I'm trying to track down this problem but I don't know much
about the neutral switch. Any additional information you can supply or
resources to check will be helpful.
Thanks!
david
ANSWER: David,
Sorry to take so long to get back with you but my Mother was discharged from the Hospital today and we have been shuffling family around to take care of her until she is well enough to go back to her house. Not to mention that the transmission in my daughter's car took a dump IN THE HOSPITAL PARKING LOT while she drove up here from Texas where she goes to college. The last 5 weeks have been hell. Enough of my crap..
Your question is really bothering me. Depending on which catalog or web site I look in, I'm getting conflicting information. I wish I could see the old part. This is SO important for a counterman when we have problems. Here is what I have seen:
At www.bwdbrand.com, if you go to the side bar and click on "Catalogs", then "Part Number Lookup", you, once you enter all the information, will show you a part number S9194. It screws into the transmission. You can click on the part number to get a good view of the part. It has 4 wires going to it. NOW...
At www.oehq.com, if you go to that web site and click on "O.E. Catalog" on the side bar, then click "Application", then click on "Electrical-Switch-Ignition" then click on "Switch-Backup" it will show you a Delco (yes, I know, not Ford) part number F2202 which is a 2 prong screw in switch. We aren't done...
When I look in an OLD Motocraft Catalog, it doesn't list a back up light switch but shows a Neutral Safety switch. That part number is SW1263 which is a 2 bolt attachment to the transmission. It is a bulky aluminum piece with a wiring harness coming off of it. Without the old switch, I'm totally lost.
Check out those websites and see what you think. IF you have the old part, there should be a part number on it. It isn't a Ford number, it is a Ford Engineering number but I can cross it. You can also go to your local Public Library and go to the Reference Section to do some research. You cannot check out those books but you can make photocopies of pages to help you.
In closing, as far as the problem goes, you have stated that, when you put the car in reverse, sometimes the lights just flash or maybe not at all. I just think it is a dirty switch. I don't know if you can clean the switch without seeing it.
I'm finished with this book. Please know you are not the only one with car problems. The transmission is Sara's car will cost me $1,700.00. If my Mom should pass away, there isn't a car on earth that would make that up. I guess the lesson I'm trying convey is they are just cars. Not life and death. Chin up brother, It'll be okay..
Skip
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Skip,
I guess the saying is true; when it rains, it pours. My prayers go out to your
mother and I hope Sara's car can be fixed quickly.
Thank you for your detailed research. It is much more than I would know how
to do. Looks like my next step is to crawl under the car and try to find the
neutral switch. I'll look for your description of a bolted piece with wires
coming our of it. Hopefully is it bolted on the side and not "on top" of the
transmission where I doubt I would have access without removing the
transmission.
Transmissions are something that I would never fool with but since you are
knowledgeable in this area, can you tell me if I could do damage by removing
the neutral switch? to either clean or replace it? In other words does the
switch just "unbolt" or is it an intricate process that involves some specialize
knowledge of transmissions? (Assuming I can reach it).
I found a neutral switch on Ebay but don't know if I should bid on it.
Thanks again for your help!
david
Answer David,
In retrospect, things could have been worse for me. When Mom fell, she could have broken a hip which requires surgery. She just broke her pelvis. Sara's transmission could have gone out on I-35 in the middle of Oklahoma!! Instead it waited until she was here in Kansas City. She had to take my wife's Equinox back to Texas but Kay is on vacation this week so we didn't have to rent a car. We will have Sara's Jimmy back tomorrow. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It is a long tunnel but I don't think it is a train!
Now to your problem.. DON'T WORRY ABOUT EBAY, IT MAY BE THE WRONG SWITCH. You don't know which switch you need!!
The switch should be near the shift linkage on the side of the transmission. Look for the "shift shaft". The shaft sticks out of the transmission and the linkage attaches to it. The switch should be very close to this shaft. I wish I could see photos but you can see some. I sent you some web sites to look at but will tell you about them again...
www.bwdbrand.com, if you go to the side bar and click on "Catalogs", then "Part Number Lookup", you, once you enter all the information, will show you a part number S9194.
www.oehq.com, if you go to that web site and click on "O.E. Catalog" on the side bar, then click "Application", then click on "Electrical-Switch-Ignition" then click on "Switch-Backup" it will show you a Delco (yes, I know, not Ford) part number F2202.
SW1263 which is a 2 bolt attachment to the transmission. It is a bulky aluminum piece with a wiring harness coming off of it. The Motocraft website doesn't show a photo because it is obsolete.
Go to the first two sites and follow my instructions to see photos. If I had your personal eMail address, I can scan a picture of the Motocraft part and send it to you. My eMail address is CarPartMan@aol.com. Let me know..
Skip
