This isn't the/a normal reverse lights problem. The lights only come on when I hold the shifter back. If I just put it into reverse and let go of the shifter the lights turn off (ex. putting my right arm behind the passenger seat to leverage myself around better so I don't back into something). I also noticed that when I hold it back there's a significant voltage drop (1-2v).

Recap:
Both bulbs are good
Both reverse lights come on when shifter is held back
Neither come on when shifter is just in reverse with no pressure held to it

Can anyone shed some light (pun intended) on this situation.

 

doesnt a voltage drop indicate a loose ground? could it be the switch or the part of the shifter that hits it?

 

Are your shifter bushings good? Seriously. If your shifter is pivoting off location, it'll affect the shift rod position on the switch. Also make sure the swith is totally screwed in (you'd prob. have leaks). Could also be the switch internally.

 

Could be a bad switch.

Shifter bushings would have nothing to do with it. The Switch is on the tranny housing not on the shifter housing. You could have a floppy fish for a shifter but when you put in it reverse that lights shoudl come on and stay on while you flop that fish around

 

id say swich to. t2 and na reverse light switches are diff. mine was doing the same then finally went out. not easy to find a t2 swich let me tell you. i got one from rp performance. it was a jdm t2 swich and it works perfectly. i dont care if its u.s. or jdm as long as it works. JDM alot shorter than stock t2 swich also.

 

Bushings are basically brand new. It stays good in gear and there really isn't much "floppiness."

 

Couldn't it just be a failing reverse switch? I realize that sounds too simple to be true.. but....

 

That'd be nice (sorta), but what confuses me is why holding it would make a difference. When I just leave the shifter in reverse and don't push/hold it, the lights aren't intermittent or anything, they just never come on.

x2

 

I don't know.. maybe its like an old funky key board, or a debit card machine.... when t hey get old, you have to push the buttons a little harder.

 

smoke on the water...a fire in the sky...do do do, do do do-do.

:AA:

 

It is the reverse light switch.

had the same problem when I first got my vert a year and a half ago. The reverse would work if I held it back, but wouldn't stay on. After awhile, it just stopped working all together.

so replace your switch. before you end up backing into someone who isn't paying total attention.

 

My car has been doing the same exact thing with the reverse lights after my engine swap. I installed a new/used S4 TII transmission at that time. My original switch had four wires/plugs coming from it, but the switch on the new trans only had two (S5 switch??). I swapped it for my four wire switch (because there was four wires to plug in on the harness). Two connectors are square shaped, and two look like a butt splice-to-peg shaped push-connectors. Each similar pair of plugs had the same color wires, so I was thinking maybe I switched the plugs around. I know the switch was good when it was in my 87 TII, so I doubt it went bad during the swap. Since you have the same intermittent reverse light symptom as me, I don't think it's a bad switch. I haven't crawled under the car to flip flop the wires yet, but I will let you know if it fixes the problem when I try...

 

But... it worked BEFORE they hit him.... RIGHT?!

 

I just thought of this and it might be related. Sometimes when I'm cruising in 5th I can get the "Shift Up" light to come on very very briefly if I give it the right amount of gas. I have to really be paying attention to see it. It's usually where the bulb looks like it doesn't even light up all the way because it flickers so fast.

I can get it to do it repeatedly (if I notice it doing it). I'm not in 5th much so I can't really say how often it happens. I've only noticed it a couple times.

 

Still doing it...

 

look for loose wires near the backup light switch. Or replace the switch itself. That switch going out can cause some weird stuff as stray voltages are going elsewhere.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/write-up-reverse-5th-transmission-switch-fix-690555/