1988 Silverado

TedH · November 29, 2004

My sister recently purchased my brother's 1988 Silverado. Actually, her husband bought it but it is cool that it is staying in the family. Anyway, they discovered that when backing up, the reverse lights do not work. What can be the cause? Fuse? reverse switch/wire connection at the trans? Shift selector reverse switch? I don't have a clymers for that model year.

Please advise

Stocklook · November 29, 2004

I had a 90 GMC same problem, try this when you put it in rev push up on the shifter (don't change gears) and see if they come on, mine you had to do that, there might be some play in the shifter switch

budhayes3 · November 29, 2004

Like Stocklook said, see what happens when you wiggle the shifter. Check the bulbs first though, it is possible that they're both burnt out. I'd also check the wiring and the neutral safety switch. Not sure how that circuit works, but I think the reverse lt switch is integrated with the neutral safety switch...although I could be wrong.

JimG · November 29, 2004

Had the same thing happen to me (not a GM vehicle, but identical problem)

Assuming the bulbs and fuse are good, the most likely culprit is the neutral safety switch. If you don't have one, go get a Haynes or Chilton's manual for the truck to help you with locating and replacing. If there's been any work on the wiring to those lights, that would also be a good place to look as well - corrossion, loose connection, etc.

mcreyaufmiller · November 29, 2004

I would check the circuit boards for the rear lights. These are known to blow. I am not sure if they had them on the 88, but it is worth checking.

Mike

citydriver · November 30, 2004

I would check the circuit boards for the rear lights. These are known to blow. I am not sure if they had them on the 88, but it is worth checking.

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The '88 model year was the first to use the circuit baords in the tail lights (I bought one in '87...1st model year) Check all that was stated above, fuse, shifter play, bulbs.....the neutral safety/reverse switch is mounted to the top of the steering column right before it goes thru the firewall (looks like a 1/2 moon) and is mounted with 2 screws..the wire to the reverse lights is the LIGHT GREEN wire

TedH · December 5, 2004

I would check the circuit boards for the rear lights. These are known to blow. I am not sure if they had them on the 88, but it is worth checking.

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The '88 model year was the first to use the circuit baords in the tail lights (I bought one in '87...1st model year) Check all that was stated above, fuse, shifter play, bulbs.....the neutral safety/reverse switch is mounted to the top of the steering column right before it goes thru the firewall (looks like a 1/2 moon) and is mounted with 2 screws..the wire to the reverse lights is the LIGHT GREEN wire

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All,

This is gonna take a while.

OK. Sister took the truck to the shop. Shop replaced the two taillight circuit boards. Lights worked for couple days. Now inoperable again. I have recommended they try wiggling/pulling back on the selector when the truck is in reverse to see if 'play' in the linkage is contributing. Also, will check the wiring connectors at the reverse safety switch on lower steering column to see if loose or detached wires.

Now, for the rest of the story...

Reason truck was going into the shop this time was failure of the rubber lines connecting gas tank to fuel lines. Shop charged $670 to drop the tank and replace the two high pressure fuel hoses. This sounds suspicious; especially given the hoses were $400 of that. in my lifetime, I have never purchased high pressure hoses that cost over $75 and those were the power steering hoses for my Vette Brakes and Products rebuilt unit for my '80 Vette.

In addition, sister paid another $300 to have the reverse circuit boards replaced (as I mentioned above).

OK. This is where it gets interesting... There was another $900 in repairs that my sister didn't pay for. The shop, without permission, decided to install a $400 gas tank sending unit and a $500 fuel pump. Shop said "sending unit would cost "just a little bit..." and they replaced the pump without even asking and the pump worked already (didn't need replacing). Unfortunately for them, my sister grew up with 5 brothers; four of which were into cars (Chevys) and sister drove a '73 Split Bumper Camaro; enough said. So this shop met their match. She wasn't going to roll over and eat another $1000 in repairs that she didn't approve or need. The shop tried to 'work it out' and even then tried to remove the parts and return them to the supplier they had purchased them from. Unforturnately, like the rest of us, once you submerse a new part in gasoline, oil or other corrosive petroleum products, you don't get to returm them! As Judge Judy says "Stupider than a box of rocks".

So, fuel hoses replaced and reverse lights still inoperable but sister got new sending unit and fuel pump. Bottom line: $970. Oh, and the fuel gauge was not working and the sending unit was to resolve that;... the gauge still not working. And this is funny. Shop thought that since it registered 1/4 full after replacing sending unit that they had resolved the gauge problem. Unfortunately for them, they had not consulted (again) with my sister. If they had asked, she would have informed them it ALWAYS registered 1/4 full!!!! DOH (in Homer Simpson speak)!!! Now, my sister needs to investigate gas gauge replacement as the sending unit (or the gauge) are normally the cause of a 'broken gauge'.

And that is "the rest of the story...".

citydriver · December 6, 2004

Sounds like a case for small claims court

Did they try and give her a 5gal. bucket of Vasaline with that bill?

The wiring harness for the tail lights also run along the left frame rail w/the fuel lines....I'm wondering if the shop may have disturbed(broke) them while they were under there ......just a thought