Reverse light switch wiring question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Reverse light switch wiring question
Trying to get my 77 Auto Vette reverse lights to work. Rewired the reverse lights with new wire
and hooked it to battery and they lite up.
Any way, I replaced the neutral safety switch
in the center console. I only have power going to the pink wire, with key on. No power at the green wire when in reverse. Also no power
at the purple or purple/white wires. Drawing
shows that purple wires go to starter motor solenoid. Purple wires in the center console disappear into the wiring harness headed toward the front of the car. My question is
how do the purple wires get to the starter
motor solenoid? I don't see any purple wires
attached to the solenoid. Am I missing a wire
harness? TIA.
and hooked it to battery and they lite up.
Any way, I replaced the neutral safety switch
in the center console. I only have power going to the pink wire, with key on. No power at the green wire when in reverse. Also no power
at the purple or purple/white wires. Drawing
shows that purple wires go to starter motor solenoid. Purple wires in the center console disappear into the wiring harness headed toward the front of the car. My question is
how do the purple wires get to the starter
motor solenoid? I don't see any purple wires
attached to the solenoid. Am I missing a wire
harness? TIA.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Also what do you mean 12 red and 14 black? Is the number the gauge of wire?
TIA
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Yes the numbers are gauge sizes.
edit -on your reverse lights-sounds like your new switch is not adjusted properly.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 3, 2008 at 10:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
The purple white comes from the ignition switch and will only be hot when the key is in the start position.If the trans is in neutral or park the purple/white will supply the purple with current and the starter will engage.
Yes the numbers are gauge sizes.
edit -on your reverse lights-sounds like your new switch is not adjusted properly.
Yes the numbers are gauge sizes.
edit -on your reverse lights-sounds like your new switch is not adjusted properly.
I am thinking that I am missing a wiring harness because I don't see
any purple wire going to the starter. And my car will start if shifter
is in reverse, drive, netural and of course park.
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Someone could have run a different color of wire....what color of wire do you have on the small terminal at the starter solenoid?Sometimes the purple appears to be brown.
Also it sounds as if some bypassed the neutral switch.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
The neutral safety switch on the console shifter is adjustable at the screws that hold it on the shifter.
Someone could have run a different color of wire....what color of wire do you have on the small terminal at the starter solenoid?Sometimes the purple appears to be brown.
Also it sounds as if some bypassed the neutral switch.
Someone could have run a different color of wire....what color of wire do you have on the small terminal at the starter solenoid?Sometimes the purple appears to be brown.
Also it sounds as if some bypassed the neutral switch.
I didn't know that the neutral safety switch needed to be adjusted.
I just tried to put it back excatly like the old one came out.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Block your wheels so car wont roll,unplug both connectors at the neutral switch on the shifter,put the leads from your multi meter across the 2 purple wires coming from neutral switch(meter on ohms or continuity buzzer),put the trans.shift lever in neutral,adjust the switch so you have continuity,shift to reverse and you should not have continuity on the purples,shift to park and you should have continuity again,shift through all gears to confirm no continuity in forward and reverse gears and continuity in neutral and park,now put the meter leads across the pink and green and shift to reverse and confirm you have continuity for the reverse lights. That should do it.Plug everything back in hold down on brake pedal and check to see engine only starts in proper positions.
Check for reverse lights.
Check for reverse lights.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
OK, got them working. I feel pretty stupid now that I found out what was wrong. After buying a new switch, new bulbs and rewiring the rear backup lights. Spent two whole days troubleshooting before I figured it out.
There is a small pin that is attached to the lower part of the shifter that had sheared off. Had to drill out the broken pin and then I just stuck a s/s nail into the hole in
the tab of the switch all the away through into the shifter bracket.
Soooo, there was no way the switch would move when the stick was moved into the various gears. I should have noticed that from day one but I did not know that broken off pin was needed to move the tab coming out of the bottom of the switch. Anyway, I'm stoked that it is now working. Thanks to DWncchs, his adjustment instructions did help and should be included with every backup switch.
Thanks! again DWncchs
Corvette Forum Rules!!!
There is a small pin that is attached to the lower part of the shifter that had sheared off. Had to drill out the broken pin and then I just stuck a s/s nail into the hole in
the tab of the switch all the away through into the shifter bracket.
Soooo, there was no way the switch would move when the stick was moved into the various gears. I should have noticed that from day one but I did not know that broken off pin was needed to move the tab coming out of the bottom of the switch. Anyway, I'm stoked that it is now working. Thanks to DWncchs, his adjustment instructions did help and should be included with every backup switch.
Thanks! again DWncchs
Corvette Forum Rules!!!
Last edited by DMONSVETTE; Oct 4, 2008 at 10:23 PM.
