Can anyone tell me how to find the reverse light switch on my transmission? It is an automatic 5 speed in a 2000 ram 2500. I was told it screwed into the tranny. Bought a new one from autoparts store but could not find anything that resembled the plug on the side of the housing.

 

Crazy. It should be at the end of any wires on the trans.

Can you see around to the top?

 

I think there are two types for the 4 speed auto, not sure of the years for the different types. Should be right behind the shift lever on the trans, driver side, and it is also the neutral safety switch. Center pin gets grounded in park/neutral, outter pins act as a switch and close contact in revers.

If its a 5 speed (manual), its on the top of the trans in the top cover/fork holder on passenger side, not sure if you can even see it from below. This is a 2 pin only.

 

Yep found it. Tested and found it isn't working. Go figure. New one will be in tomorro. Got a few wires to repair now. Started looking around and found a crappy connection on the power supply wire to the electric fuel pump which fell apart in my hands. Now the truck is sitting until tomorro. Argh!! At least it didn't happen on the highway.

 

Put the new switch in and it isn't working. The truck starts ok in park but it doen't seem to close the reverse light switch when cycled thru reverse or any other gears either. Thinking it could be a wear problem inside??? Have power going to the switch but nothing comming out. Tried to jump across the plug to see if the lights would come on and found some new ground issues. Road salt is wreaking havok on my old truck.

 

Check the switch with it out of the truck first, always a chance of bad parts. I think the outter plastic piece is what gets pushed in for reverse, the the little ball in the center sees ground for neut/park safety. Make sure the switch is threaded all the way in. Is is a switch from dodge or someone else? I guess if all else fails there is a little piece of plastic molded to the "rooster comb", the part inside attached to the valve body that the switch rides on, always a chance it's out of alignment somehow or the plastic piece broke off. I think the valve body has to come out to get at it, but you may be able to at least visually check it with a mirror or something with just the pan off.

And yes I feel your pain with road salt.

 

Thanks for your help,
Tried buying one from the local parts store originally. They had it in stock but I couldn't find anything on my tranny that resembled it. Took it back and got the right one from Dodge for a couple bucks more. Had to chase a ground problem and change a socket but it's working perfectly again. Didn't like backing up by brail in the dark. Missed the pintle once or twice. Ouch!!