Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Backup Lamp: Description and Operation

The backup (or reverse) lamps have a path to ground at all times through a takeout and eyelet terminal of the left headlamp and dash wire harness that is secured by a ground screw to the left inner fender support within the engine compartment. On vehicles with a manual transmission, the backup lamp switch provides battery voltage to the backup lamps on the backup lamp feed circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On position and the Reverse position is selected with the transmission shift linkage. On vehicles with an automatic transmission, the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) provides battery voltage to the backup lamps on the backup lamp feed circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On position and the Reverse position is selected with the transmission shift linkage.