cletis is cletis, and that SEEMS to be the way he is
one way or another, you need a switch to be activated when the shift lever is set to reverse. i have an '88 and a '90(both non-electronic) in the basement, and both have a 4 prong, female jack. that jack needs a male jack to which the reverse lights wiring would be attached. when you shift into reverse, the mechanical shift arm on the trans will activate the internal arm to make contact at the internals/switch of the female jack, hence power to the lights. the 4sp on my jeep has a 2 contact switch, by which, when the lever is put into reverse, the internal, mechanical 'arm' will make contact for that switch, hence power to the lights. one way or the other, you have incorrect wiring, a bad switch, bad internal mechanics or a bad jack/s
