Hello,

My daughters 240 sedan does not have any backup lights.

The car is an automatic. I have just replaced both rear light lense assys. and have made sure that the backup lamps are not burned out.

Is there a backup light switch on the automatic trans., or is it just actuated via the switch in the shifter housing? I do not yet have a Bentley manual for the car.

Many thanks,

DET

More often than not it's the connector to the driver's side circuit board, or in some cases the circuit board itself, but...if this fails...is the shifter loose...you know...kinda wiggley...shifter bushings and/or neutral safety switch are to blame.

You did check the fuses, right?

First rule of thumb for checking electrical problems: Check the fuses first.

I've overlooked this simple step so many times it's not even funny. I've even replaced perfectly good switches before I realized the fuse was at fault.
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

check the tail light connector harness on the driver side, there should be 12volt presence on the 2 black wires (wires at the end on the connector)when put in reverse, if they do clean the contacts on both the connector and the circuit board

good luck

I have had off and on trouble with my backup lights (in fact, I'm having it again right now). In my case, it has not been a problem with the backup switch, but rather a problem with the plug on connector that connects the wiring harness to the tailight units.

The wiring harness comes back along the driver's side of the car, and there is a connector that plugs onto the driver's side tailight. This connector also contains wires that then go onto the passenger side taillight.

In my case, the problem was that the plug on connector was not making good contact with the driver's reverse light unit, and so neither reverse unit was getting power.

You can check this with a testlamp. Turn the ignition on BUT DON'T START THE CAR. SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND THEN SHIFT THE TRANNY TO REVERSE. Make sure all of the other lights are off (headlights, running lights, turn signals flashers and brake lights)and then pull the connector off the driver's tailight. Then, probe for power (sorry, can't remember what the wire color is for reverse). I bet you will get power, which shows that the switch is not the problem.
The problem for me was that the plug was not crimping tight enough onto the reverse light section of the driver's tailight. I solved it by picking up a package of brass shim stock, such as is sold at many hardware stores. Cut a small piece of this and fit it in a U around the reverse light section of the tailight connector. Then when you plug the wiring connector on it will work. Just make sure the piece is narrow enough so that it doesn't overlap onto adjacent light wiring.

You can look here either to see what it looks like or how I fixed both mine and my daughter's instead of buying a new one.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

the sw is on the shifter, below the plastic cover. good luck, chuck.