Couple of issues I need help identifying

[zilla68]

is it possible that I have an internal steering column issue that would cause my tranny issue?
Only reason I ask, is when I bought the truck, the reverse lights didn't work, new bulbs, tested the outlets with the truck in reverse, and they were getting no power anywhere from the back up underneath the truck, but now they work mysteriously.

I've known the previous owner for 20 years and he said they quit working about a year or 2 before I bought it.

 

[Racer X]

is it possible that I have an internal steering column issue that would cause my tranny issue?
Only reason I ask, is when I bought the truck, the reverse lights didn't work, new bulbs, tested the outlets with the truck in reverse, and they were getting no power anywhere from the back up underneath the truck, but now they work mysteriously.

I've known the previous owner for 20 years and he said they quit working about a year or 2 before I bought it.

Probably not.
Power for the back up lights flows from the fuse box to the range sensor on the transmission. On trucks equipped with the factory towing option, power flows from the fuse box to a power relay, then to the range sensor. When the transmission lever is moved to the reverse position, the sensor internally connects power to flow to the back up lights.

Racer