I have a 2001 dodge dakota originally equipped with an automatic transmission but i swapped in a 5 speed from a 95. I am unable to get the reverse lights working

 

I think there is a two-pin switch up near shfiter for that purpose. Have to unpin the wires from what used to go to the neutral safety switch.

 

Mine has the 5 prong connector i grounded the neutral safety wire so that it would start

 

I have also tested the reverse switch on the transmission to confirm it works.

 

Is it hooked up? Are they the correct wires?

 

I believe so. I referenced a wiring diagram but didn’t work

 

From what I am seeing, the backup lights get power from fuse 26 in the junction block, to a brown with light green trace to the switch. (pin 1 on the connector.) The feed to the lights is a violet with black trace, (pin 4 in the connector.) From the lights, it just goes to a ground.

 

Correct, as HeyYou said, you simply apply 12 volts to the violet/black wire. With that said, you can run into issues. I tapped the wire at the frame rail at the front of the bed, and blew my feed fuse every time. I clipped the wire (so the side going to the engine/transmission harness was disconnected) and it's just fine.

 

I have tried running the wires as you described, but to no success. They worked fine before the swap so I don’t know what the issue could be.

 

For the sake of testing, supply power directly to the black/purple wire on the frame rail or in the factory transmission harness.

You might have to cut the wire and tap in down-range as i mentioned above.