All,

I have a 1997 Dodge Ram Van 3500 with a 5.9. I have (what I believe) is a bad reverse light switch on the transmission. The odd thing about this, is that it looks different than any of the switches the auto parts stores pull up. Mine has 2 wires, and has little "blades", and not the traditional pins.

It's not the lights themselves, because when I run a hot wire to them, they both work.
Is there a fuse to the transmission switch? Is this a hot, or ground to complete the circuit to the lights? The wire colors are black and purple from the switch. This is the same colors coming from the reverse lights in the back.

Thanks for any insight!

 

According to the diagrams I find, fuse 6 supplies power to the switch via a white wire, the violet w/black wire runs back to the lamps, and then there is just a ground back there somewhere. See if you are getting power to the switch.

 

Sounds to me like you're looking at the torque converter lockup connector which is a 2-wire. The reverse light switch and the neutral safety switch are a combination unit with a 3-wire connector (back of tranny).

 

You are right. My (embarrassing) mistake. Thanks for the input!

 

I have another potential problem. That same torque converter connector doesn't seem to have any power going to it. Does anyone know how to test this? Im running a code that this is not working, but I'm not exactly sure which wire is power, and if it is constant. I tested them both, and no power to either one.

 

Should be an 8 pin connector for transmission controls on yours. Drivers side of trans, about halfway back. Plugs straight down into the top of the valve body area of the trans.

You will only see power down there for about three seconds after turning the key on, if the engine isn't running. Two power wires as well, 12 volts for the tcc, governor pressure, and o/d solenoids, and 5 volts for the pressure sensor. (assuming a 46RE trans.)

 

The PCM only powers it when the driving conditions dictate the torque converter is to be locked up.