I've got a bit of a mystery with the backup lights on 5 speed 2011 Ranger I recently purchased. Both the original switch and a replacement (Wells F401) seem to work as expected when operated by hand, but not when installed in the transmission. I've used a magnet to pull the steel pushrod out of the transmission, and mine measures 52mm long from tip to tip. When shifted into reverse, and the switch is screwed in by hand, it feels like the switch will come flush with the transmission without even touching the push rod.

Has anybody run across something like this before, or have any ideas of what to try? Is there possibly a difference in the length of the push rod between the M5OD-R1 R1HD and R2, and someone put the wrong length rod in mine?

Edit: The problem seems to have magically resolved itself after a few days of driving around with the replacement switch installed. As of last night my backup lights now operate perfectly as they should. Since there was no logical reason for them to not be working, thats enough to call it fixed. If anyone else has strange backup light switch problems, it may just need a few days to break in.