Why does the reverse lights stay on even when I'm not in reverse and I'm driving a 1992 dodge Dakota?

Answer 1

If you have a trailer wiring harness plugged into your vehicle harness it may be causing a short through the back-up lights. More likely, though, is that the neutral start switch on the automatic transmission is malfunctioning. Try to start the vehicle in a gear other than park or neutral -BE CAREFUL, APPLY PARKING BRAKE AND KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE REGULAR BRAKE- if the engine turns over in a forward or in reverse gear, that's a sure sign that the switch is malfunctioning. The neutral start switch is screwed into the front left of the transmission near the shift linkage. It should have three wires leading to it. The center terminal is your neutral start circuit. The outer two terminals control your backup lights. Look for cracked insulation on these wires or other signs of damage. You can also check the shift linkage while you're down there. In park, the shift lever on the transmission should be all the way to the rear. If you want to check the neutral start switch with an ohmmeter, put the vehicle in park or neutral (not running, of course). There should be continuity between the center terminal and ground. The outer two terminals should have continuity to ground only when the shift lever is in reverse. Any other readings mean the switch is probably faulty and must be replaced.