Pinto Car Club of America

i just picked up a 1980 pinto hatch back 2.3/auto and am having trouble with the brake lights.they will work by themselves and with the headlights on as well as the blinkers but if i have the lights on and step on the brake the drivers side shuts off(passenger stays on)and the back up lights come on.any ideas would be appreciated.also has anyone thought of a ranger 5-speed swap. thank you for you time

I had some problems with the grounds on my brake lights. I would hit the brakes and one or no brake lights would work. I created a better ground to resolve the problem-wire brushing the light socket. I am guessing here, but for your back up lights to come on when you step on your brakes, either the wrong light is in the wrong hole (which I think could easily be the case) or you have some mis-wired lights. Hope that helps ya.

I figured out after a little while there was not a good enough ground,now they work perfect but no reverse lights(maybe it's the switch).  My dad messed around with pintos in his younger days and told me that was a common problem.

My experience with my '73 is that the plug for the reverse lights attaches (at least in the manual tranny) to the passenger side of the transmission. There is not much clearance in there and the plug has a tendency to pop off. I'd have to agree with your dad in that I am always without backup lights for this reason.

Hello robw,
WELCOME! Glad to hear your lights are working better.
The Ranger 5 speed will NOT work. The shifter is too far forward.
You would have to cut a hole in the floor about 18" closer to the front of your Pinto and then have a REALLY long shifter. Get a T-5 from a 86 Fox body Mustang or T-coupe.
From Pintony