Installed new backup lights on 1965 mustang automatic. The new lights do not come on when the gear shift is in reverse position; only when it's in a certain spot somewhere between reverse and neutral. Any suggestions on a fix? Parts store suggested trying a new neutral safety switch. Think that's the problem?

 

My guess is that if it was a bad reverse sensing switch, it'd not work at all, but that's just an educated guess. You may have some slop in the shifter linkage, or it may be out of adjustment causing the problem. Do you have problems starting it as well sometimes and need to play with the shifter to get it to work?

 

You may also have to adjust the position of the back-up light switch on the tranny shifter. Something sounds like you have some slop in the shifter, but the neutral safety switch is probably not the culprit.

 

Yes I do have to knock the shifter back towards me to get it to start. So it sounds like I might be able to adjust the neutral safety switch to fix the problem. Thanks for the help.