I've recently discovered that my reverse lights don't work when I'm in reverse. The bulbs and wires seem to be good, and I was told there's a switch to activate the reverse lights. If this is the case, where would it be located? I have a 5 speed 4th gen, just got it 3 months ago and am still learning where everything is on this car.

 

The reverse switch is combined with the neutral position switch and is on the transmission.

See page 7 in the link below:

http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/1997/MT.pdf

Interestingly enough,the the transmission section (the link above) says the reverse switch uses pins 2 & 4. The electrical wiring diagram say the reverse switch uses pins 1 & 3. Obviously one of them is wrong, so check both halves.

 

Would that also be why my car only starts in neutral?

 

As far as I know, it should start in any gear. The switch on the clutch pedal is for that.

I think the neutral position part of the switch is for the cruise control.

 

For '98 and earlier: pin 2 & 4 has continuity in reverse gear, pin 1 & 3 in neutral.

For '99 models: pin 1 & 3 has continuity in reverse gear, pin 2 & 4 in neutral.


I got this info from the Haynes manual, which I used when diagnosing the switch on my '99.

 

Try to check the pnp switch could be.bad,than check for voltage in the pins and harness wires.

 

Fun fact. When I was rolling down hill hill in neutral and hit resume, the engine shot up to 7k. Neutral does not matter, the clutch pedal cancels it.

 

The clutch switch is in series with the brake pedal switch and when either of these switches operate, they "undo" the SET button.

In auto trans cars the park/neutral switch is used in place of the manual trans clutch switch.

So a manual trans car does not use the neutral switch and that allows the cruise control module to rev the engine in an effort to maintain speed while in neutral. I think this was a big oversight.