Backup Light Mystery

My backup lights are on when I'm in forward gears (1-4), and off when I go into reverse.
Jeep: 1979 CJ5
Transmission: T-176 (I think, it's stamped C-2604208, so Google tells me it's a T176)

I removed wire connector from the back-up switch. When I placed a jumper across the connector, the back-up lights turn on (circuit closed). When I remove the jumper, the circuit is broken and the backup lights go out. From what I can tell, everything electrical is working as it should.

When I remove the back-up switch, I can see the rod that mechanically pushes on the switch. Here's the mystery: according to what I have researched, that rod should retract when the transmission is in 1-4, then extend when I shift into reverse.

However, the opposite happens in my jeep. In gears 1-4, the rod is extended. When I put it into reverse, the rod retracts. As a result, the back-up lights are on UNLESS I am in reverse. Help!

 

get a switch that closes when its extended, they come both ways,yours is open when extended

 

That was my first thought also. NO versus NC (normally open/normally closed).

 

Thanks for the help. I have been searching for a normally open switch, but haven't had any luck. If anyone has a good part number, that would be super helpful!

 

A 1979 Jeep would have either the T-150 3-speed transmission, or the T-18 wide ratio 4-speed. The T-176 was not used in the CJ until 1980. However, looking at your pics, it's not a T-150 and it's not a T-18, and it has the NP (New Process) bolt pattern for the transfer case, so that's a 1980 or later.

A '79 could be one of two switches, either a 5350061 with 2 terminals, or a 3223126 with 3. An '80 is a 3229472 or 5751207 with 2 or 3 resp.