Reply to "Back Up Lights"

I have the wiring diagram that came with the original owner's manual (blue book). This is the original manual, not a reproduction. The wiring diagram is a fold-out page that is bound with the other pages of the manual. There is no date on the wiring diagram, but there is a date (5/71) on the book.

This wiring diagram ("dated" 5/71) shows the back-up lights connected to fuse #8. Fuse #8 receives its power from the general relay (normally open contact). The coil of the general relay is energized via the ignition switch. IOW, the ignition switch needs to be on in order for the back-up lights to work.

According to Bill Taylor's wiring diagram labeled "Pantera-early Pre-L Model", the back-up lights are connected to fuse #12, and fuse #12 receives its power from the ignition switch. This means that the ignition switch has to be on in order for the back-up lights to work. This is the way that my car is wired, not the way that the wiring diagram in the original blue owner's manual shows.

My car is serial #1490, build date 5/71.

John