Reverse lights on LS swap

[pctghost]

I bought a 1997 tj that had been LS swapped and has a holley dominator engine management system. The previous owner didn't have reverse lights and I cannot find the wiring for the connector that was supposed to be there. It has an nv4500 transmission and per the vin it originally had a manual transmission. I replaced the round led taillights with round led taillights with a reverse light built in. My question is how do I wire the reverse lights up without the original connector or wiring to the nv4500. I did buy the pigtail to fit the nv4500 reverse switch, I just have no idea how to wire it up. The rest of the tail lights work fine. Please help.

 

[Obi-Wan]

You will want to locate the white wire associated with fuse 7 behind your glovebox. That is where your Jeep originally supplied power for your reverse lights. The image below is taken directly from the service manual for the 97 TJ. The highlighted route shows where power is sourced at fuse 7, making it's way through the reverse switch located on the transmission and ultimately to the reverse lights.

Below is a simplified wiring diagram of what is shown above, and ultimately what you will need to do. LED lights are polarity sensitive, so if you hook them up backward, no power will flow and they will not light up. Make sure you have a good ground, that is what causes 95% of most electrical issues.

 

[pctghost]

I have that diagram and I have followed the violet/white wire from fuse 7 to where the wires come out of the fire wall and I think I found it. It was cut off right after the fire wall. I jumped that wire to the reverse switch. I am not getting 12v at that wire. My other issue is finding the violet/black wire that goes to the reverse lights. I followed the violet/black wire back from the rear lights to the black plug under the driver's dash. Then I lose it.

 

[Obi-Wan]

I have that diagram and I have followed the violet/white wire from fuse 7 to where the wires come out of the fire wall and I think I found it. It was cut off right after the fire wall. I jumped that wire to the reverse switch. I am not getting 12v at that wire. My other issue is finding the violet/black wire that goes to the reverse lights. I followed the violet/black wire back from the rear lights to the black plug under the driver's dash. Then I lose it.

The violet/black wire would not go all the way back to the dash. If you look at the diagram, it only goes from the reverse lights to the reverse switch on the transmission. From there it turns into violet/white.

 

[pctghost]

It goes back to under the dash where all the wires come together at the multicolored plugs. I assume that it then went with the violet/white wire to a connector at the transmission reverse switch, but that has all been cut out.

 

[Obi-Wan]

Sounds like the PO was electrically challenged.

Time to break out the multi-meter and do some deep digging.

 

[pctghost]

I think the swap was done quickly and half-@ssed.

 

[Rickyd]

I have that diagram and I have followed the violet/white wire from fuse 7 to where the wires come out of the fire wall and I think I found it. It was cut off right after the fire wall. I jumped that wire to the reverse switch. I am not getting 12v at that wire. My other issue is finding the violet/black wire that goes to the reverse lights. I followed the violet/black wire back from the rear lights to the black plug under the driver's dash. Then I lose it.

Does the #7 fuse have power?

Is it an early or late 97?

95 and early 96 build dates had odd electrical differences from later ones so it might not be wired like you think.

 

[pctghost]

Fuse was blown, but I replaced the fuse and found both wires coming out of the firewall on the driver's side. Jumped them together and the reverse lights work. Now I just have to lengthen those wires to reach the reverse switch on the transmission. Hoping for the best.

 

[pctghost]

Just an update: got the wires lengthened, secured, and attached to the plug. Now have reverse lights when transmission shifted into reverse.

 

[myjeep3]

Just an update: got the wires lengthened, secured, and attached to the plug. Now have reverse lights when transmission shifted into reverse.

Possible to shine more light on this. Working on ls swap on 04 unlimited, with gm 4l60e trans and need reverse light