When I put the car in reverse it blows the turn b/u fuse. Can't find any posts with a resolution. All bulbs work, as I can test with a new fuse by starting the car without putting it in reverse and all blinkers work.

I haven't done anything with any wiring in the last 12 months except unplug the connector by the side of the transmission when I was doing the mount and torque arm bushing but I reconnected it and drove for several weeks with no issues till yesterday.

Anyone know why this would just happen all of a sudden ?

I've seen some posts point to the switch on the base of the gear selector but is there any way to test that before I go buying unnecessary parts ?
And rock auto aren't even stocking one for an auto so I'm not sure where else to even look. (I'm in Australia)

I appreciate all advice.

1988 TA auto.

 

Probably not the switch.

I'd recommend taking a good hard look at that wire.

I'd also bet that "all bulbs" DON'T work: my money says the backup lights never come on, because the wire that would power them, is touching ground somewhere between the switch and the bulb (probably vey near the switch if I can read what you wrote in the white space all around your text), thereby blowing the fuse.

 

Say there is a fault in the wire between the reverse bulb and the switch, what could've caused it ?
Like I mentioned I haven't messed around with any wiring, literally got into the car, started it put in reverse and fuse blows, previous day and every one before it no issues (this issue at least), is something like this happening out of nowhere a normal thing ?
Reverse lights had always worked up until this, when I reverse the car into the garage I can see them in the reflection of a cabinet in the back of my garage.
I'll look into the wire tomorrow.

 

Chafed wire, mouse ate it, insulation crumbled to dust, been hanging too long and it broke and fell off, something rubbed against it while hanging, you name it.

It died. Doesn't too much matter how it died really, except that when you find it and fix it, you want to identify it sufficiently to assure it doesn't happen again.

Pretty much... with most wiring problems, they either work or they don't. (except of course for intermittents) So yeah, it can work fine until it breaks, at which time it stops working. Seems more or less normal to me in that regard.

Things that break always seem to work just fine until they become broken. Not sure why this should seem unusual. ??

Examine the wire. It'll be the light green one at the backup light switch, going toward the bulb. Posting on the Internet won't find the place that bare wire is touching ground and blowing the fuse. Gotta get out there and follow the wire.

 

Light green wire 👍 will get on that.
Thanks for the assistance.

 

Checked out that wire today and found a little bit of insulation missing. Didn't look fresh (copper wiring wasn't bright, clean looking) so I guess it happened a while ago and has just moved around enough to start grounding out now.
Thanks sofakingdom for your usual wisdom in all things vehicular.

 

I hope that's the culprit. Certainly sounds like it's capable of it, if it has a way to touch ground somewhere.