Adjusting the shifter so the reverse lights work

[Riggs]

Does anyone know how to adjust a column shifter so my reverse lights can work properly? I was told there is a cable somewhere in the column that has to be adjusted so when the car is in reverse the reverse lights light up. Thank you and any help would be appreciated!

 

[NY87SS]

There is a rod that drops down from the column in the engine bay.
Where is meets up with the one from the transmission it does have some adjustment to it, however that may not be the problem if the neutral safety is applying allowing the car to start.
What might be needed here is a adjustment to a rectangular switch near the firewall on the column which controls the rear back up lights.
Too hard to explain without pics, but a Chiltons or similar manual would be a good place to look to see how each of these adjustments are made and what it looks like.

 

[Shibbs]

There is play in my shifter, and the lights will only come on if the shifter is more "up".

Basically, when I'm in R, the shifter position needle will be able to move from almost P to N and the trans will still stay in R. Does this in all the gears.

Is this similar to what you have, Riggs?