Reverse lights & top stop light

Determined

I have a 2000 Mercury Sable Wagon. I can't get the reverse lights or the upper stop light to work. I replaced all bulbs and put in a new reverse light switch which sits over the trans. I took all the panel off the hatch (seen no breaks in wire) all fuses are good. Don't see any broken wires under steering column. Is there something I did not do when replacing the reverse light switch? I need HELP!

Leah Frances

Might have a bad relay.

__________________
If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

christoff

a wiring diagram would probably help you out, there might be a break in the wire from the relay to the switch, check for power from the relay to the switch wire, also a break from the fuse panel to the third light before the hatch

Determined

Thanks both of you. I will look into this.

Mr Chips

my moneys on a bad ground

__________________
Those who can, do...
Those who can't criticize on the internet

Determined

I thank you for your in put, it worked. The only problem was, I was wondering where to start to look for a bad ground. After checking all the wires into the fuse box under the steering I found no broken wires. Oh man, now what? I then checked the boot which goes into the hatch on both sides and sure enough one broken pruple wire and one broken black wire. Spliced them together and now everything works fine.