Signal fuse blows when put in reverse
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 90
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From: Martinsville, IN
Signal fuse blows when put in reverse Guys
When I put my car in reverse it blows the signal/backup light fuse. Just started doing it today. Car is bone stock and only 22k miles. I removed the backup lights thinking it may be a corroded socket, still blows the fuse. Where is the backup light switch? in the tranny or located at the shifter? Car is a 6 speed. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The signals work fine until you put it in reverse and the fuse immediately pops.
When I put my car in reverse it blows the signal/backup light fuse. Just started doing it today. Car is bone stock and only 22k miles. I removed the backup lights thinking it may be a corroded socket, still blows the fuse. Where is the backup light switch? in the tranny or located at the shifter? Car is a 6 speed. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The signals work fine until you put it in reverse and the fuse immediately pops.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, IN
I figured it out. I just unplugged the reverse light switch from the tranny, jumped the wires in the harness....the reverse lights came on and the fuse didn't blow. Gonna be getting a new reverse switch on monday......thanks to all of you who replied..... lol...
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, IN
Trending Topics
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,330
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Isn't it interesting how many of us old-timers still hang out here despite not having an f-body anymore? I find the members here are a lot less prone to flaming than on the other forums I've started frequenting. That's why I figured I could make a tongue-in-cheek comment about the fuse without stepping on toes.
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Hopefully for me, these two are related.
As above, when I put the gear in reverse, my Turn B/U fuse blows. But also, at night, when I put my e-brake down fully, my headlights don't turn on automatically; I gotta manually turn them on via the dial. And the fuse still blows. I'm starting to go through fuses like a mad man.
In the daytime, as long as I don't go in reverse, I'm okay.
At night, as long as I don't go in reverse, AND don't put the e-brake all the way down past the last "click", I'm okay. Could this all be related to the switch on the tranny?
As above, when I put the gear in reverse, my Turn B/U fuse blows. But also, at night, when I put my e-brake down fully, my headlights don't turn on automatically; I gotta manually turn them on via the dial. And the fuse still blows. I'm starting to go through fuses like a mad man.
In the daytime, as long as I don't go in reverse, I'm okay.
At night, as long as I don't go in reverse, AND don't put the e-brake all the way down past the last "click", I'm okay. Could this all be related to the switch on the tranny?
Hopefully for me, these two are related.
As above, when I put the gear in reverse, my Turn B/U fuse blows. But also, at night, when I put my e-brake down fully, my headlights don't turn on automatically; I gotta manually turn them on via the dial. And the fuse still blows. I'm starting to go through fuses like a mad man.
In the daytime, as long as I don't go in reverse, I'm okay.
At night, as long as I don't go in reverse, AND don't put the e-brake all the way down past the last "click", I'm okay. Could this all be related to the switch on the tranny?
As above, when I put the gear in reverse, my Turn B/U fuse blows. But also, at night, when I put my e-brake down fully, my headlights don't turn on automatically; I gotta manually turn them on via the dial. And the fuse still blows. I'm starting to go through fuses like a mad man.
In the daytime, as long as I don't go in reverse, I'm okay.
At night, as long as I don't go in reverse, AND don't put the e-brake all the way down past the last "click", I'm okay. Could this all be related to the switch on the tranny?
Unplug your tail light harness to try ruling that out.
Could also be a problem with the DRL module as the auto headlamps are operated through that as well.
Auto or manual trans? Did the auto headlights work before then randomly quit working? Did the reverse blowing fuses start happening at the same time the headlights stopped working or at a different time?
Unplug your tail light harness to try ruling that out.
Could also be a problem with the DRL module as the auto headlamps are operated through that as well.
Unplug your tail light harness to try ruling that out.
Could also be a problem with the DRL module as the auto headlamps are operated through that as well.
auto headlights did work before this started happening
blowing fuses and auto headlights stopped at the same time
I have an appointment with my shop guru on Tuesday. I will definately try unplugging the taillight harness to see what happens. Thanks!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,330
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The two circuits (backup lights and auto headlights) are not related in any way. The backup light circuit is a very simple power goes from fuse through switch to bulbs and then to ground setup. The blowing fuse would indicate that you have a short somewhere between the switch and the bulbs or in the switch itself.
On the other hand, the automatic headlights are controlled by the DRL module behind the radio. The parking brake switch can not short because it is a grounding switch anyway (i.e. if it "shorted" to ground the circuit would see the parking brake on all the time but it would not blow a fuse).
I suspect that the fuse only blows when you put the car in reverse regardless of whether the parking brake is up or down and that the auto headlights is a separate problem. Does the "BRAKE" warning light on the dash go on and off when you engage and disengage the parking brake? That will tell you if the headlight problem is with the parking brake switch or elsewhere like the DRL module.
On the other hand, the automatic headlights are controlled by the DRL module behind the radio. The parking brake switch can not short because it is a grounding switch anyway (i.e. if it "shorted" to ground the circuit would see the parking brake on all the time but it would not blow a fuse).
I suspect that the fuse only blows when you put the car in reverse regardless of whether the parking brake is up or down and that the auto headlights is a separate problem. Does the "BRAKE" warning light on the dash go on and off when you engage and disengage the parking brake? That will tell you if the headlight problem is with the parking brake switch or elsewhere like the DRL module.
Well, when I push down on the brake handle all the way, the BRAKE light goes out. When I pull up the handle, the brake light turns on.
I'll be taking my car in Tuesday to have someone take a look. As best as I can describe, as long as (1) I don't shift into reverse (2) I don't put down the brake handle past the last click, everything works perfectly.
I'll be taking my car in Tuesday to have someone take a look. As best as I can describe, as long as (1) I don't shift into reverse (2) I don't put down the brake handle past the last click, everything works perfectly.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,330
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I'm still not clear what relation the parking brake has to your fuse blowing.
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
I'm still not clear what relation the parking brake has to your fuse blowing.
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
Something else came to mind - does the fuse blow if you are driving while it is light and you come to a stop under a bridge long enough for the sensor to trigger the auto headlights?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,330
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
It's true that the DRL module also gets power from the Turn/BU fuse. But I was looking more to clarify the conditions that cause the fuse to blow rather than the electrical connections because aside from sharing a fuse, the DRL module and backup light circuit have nothing in common.
So my question is "does releasing the parking brake blow the fuse even without shifting into reverse?" Or is it shifting into reverse that blows the fuse (regardless of parking brake position)?
So my question is "does releasing the parking brake blow the fuse even without shifting into reverse?" Or is it shifting into reverse that blows the fuse (regardless of parking brake position)?
I'm still not clear what relation the parking brake has to your fuse blowing.
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
Is this true:
1 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake engaged
2 - The fuse blows when you put the car in reverse with the parking brake off.
If so then the parking brake is not related to the fuse blowing (it could still be related to the automatic headlights).
(1) Only when the DRL should go on, does the fuse blow when I put the e-brake down past the last click. Otherwise, during the day, when I put the e-brake down all the way, the fuse stays just fine, and my turn signals work.
I haven't come to an opportunity to see if the fuse blows during the day, say, if I'm stopped at a light under a dark bridge, and the DRL try to come on.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2016
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Hi i replaced my reverse light switch and still have the problem of blowing fuses but i bought a jobber maybe u should try an original
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,330
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
What makes you think the backup light switch is the source of the problem? Have you tested with a meter or test light? Chances are that you have a short someplace between the switch and the backup lights or in the light sockets. In that case, the fuse would only blow when the you engage reverse causing the switch to allow current to flow to the short. The switch is the trigger but not the source of the problem.
