As most of you probably know, the stock back up lights on are pretty weak. So I bought a set of the KC back up lights that mount up under the bumper to help illuminate things a bit on my 98 2500 CTD.

I installed everything as per the instructions, but when I went to test them, I shifted the truck (5-spd) into reverse and no back up lights, nothing from the KC lights or the stock back lights either now. What has me more perplexed is that when I removed the splice from the "hot" wire to the stock back up lights, the stock lights still don't work.

All other lights, includind tail lights and brake lights still work properly.

Any suggestions?

 

Check for power at the rev light switch on the trans. One wire should be hot with key "on". If no power in, check the fuses again. If the switch has power in, check for power out to the rev lights. If no power out, the switch is bad. Also, when powering an extra set of lights, you'll want to use a relay. Tapping into the rev light circuit to trigger the relay is OK, but trying to power extra lighting in addition to the stock lights on the factory circuit will only cause problems. HTH

 

Thanks for information.

The kit came with a relay which I mounted in the right tail light housing. The relay had ground wire (black), wire to the accessory back up lights (red), wire that I spliced into the hot wire of the stock back up lights (white) and a wire from the positive terminal of the battery (green).

Each of the two KC lights has a ground wire which I ground to the bumper using light's bracket mounting bolt.

 

I'd get the relay as close to the batteries as possible. The idea is to trip before the wires/accessory beyond the relay begin to overheat and melt/burn. I doubt the wire guage of the stock backing lights will handle the KC power. Remember w/ wiring you go larger gauge the farther away you get from the source, not smaller like for irrigation. This will help the end of the circuit from overheating.

Kurt

 

Took the truck to the dealer and as I suspected, it is the switch on the tranny that is bad. They are saying because they have to take some linkage apart, it will be $390 to replace.....ouch! Anybody ever replace this switch, how time consuming/difficult is it?

 

I wired my auxiliary back up lights to a trailer plug that I only plug in when I'm plowing snow. This way there was no splicing into the wires.

There pretty low wattage so no excess draw problems.

 

Sounds a little far out to me. The switch for my 02 6speed was around $ 80.00. Mine is located on the left side of the trans. about 1/2 way up and a little to the rear of center. You can lay on your back and undo the wire clip and unscrew the switch with a socket. Might want to take a look and see if you can get to your. I have no idea were it is on a 98

 

Wire it yourself direct from the battery and use a toggle switch. That way you can have work lights without having the truck in reverse.

Its nice to have extra lights to see to tarp up the boat etc.

As you can tell I am getting spring fever and its still Feb.

TallTom