Im having some issues with my reverse lights on my 1997 Ford F150 XLT (manual transmission). All the other lights on my truck work just fine its just my reverse lights that dont come on when the truck is put into reverse. Is there a certain sensor or fuse in the shift boot or somewhere else in the truck that may have gone out?? I have changed the bulbs and checked all the light fuses in the fuse boxes inside the cab and under the hood. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas on this matter!!!! Im going to tear this truck to pieces trying to fix this issue!!

 

I know this is an old thread but this just started happening to me, my reverse lights seem intermittent when I shift into reverse (manual trany, 97 F-150 4.2L 5spd) any ideas? seems like a switch is going bad...possibly inside the tranny? hopefully not

 

M5R2 trans, the reversing switch looks to be on the left top side of the trans, just where the bell housing starts.

At the output ( for a 4x2 ) you will see the OSS harness, then it picks up the harness for both sets of the second O2 sensors, then on to the reversing lamp switch, then up into the engine compartment. If you cannot find it by my first description, then just start at the output shaft speed sensor wiring harness connector, and follow it forward.

I am going off a 2001 EVTM, so it could be slightly different, but usually the routes are the same for 97-03. Some things did change though.

For a 4x4 it is in the same place, the difference is the OSS is replaced by the T-case speed sensor, adn the high / lo indicator for the cluster is in between the O2 wiring harness connectors, and the reversing lamp switch.

Hope this helps.

Good luck