.If you think the problem is “in” you neutral safety switch then just jumper around it. If the car starts it’s the switch, if not its somewhere else.
Purple Ignition Wire
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Purple Ignition Wire
I have a 71 with the original wiring. I rebuilt the engine and everything worked fine when I got done. I have since pulled into the garage and it would not start anymore. After searching this forum, and finding lots of great information, I am down to this: The purple wire from the connector that feeds the steering column is grounding itself out. I put an ohmeter from one of the purple wires in the unplugged neutral safety switch to the pin on the connecter and it shows continuity, but both sides are also showing they are grounding out. I think this burnt the neutral safety switch up as it is no longer working. From the wiring diagrams I have, none of the purple wires anywhere should be grounded, right??? Anybody have any ideas???
P.S. I have already replaced the ignition switch on top of the steering column.
P.S. I have already replaced the ignition switch on top of the steering column.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
Occasionally you can read a ground through components like the headlights or marker lights. I’m not sure on the neutral safety switch wire whether there is anything that could cause that or not. (doubtful )
You said you just rebuilt the motor. Where did you hook up the black wire running down to the starter? Lots of people mistakenly hook it to one of the power lugs on the starter. It should go to the bell housing. If you did hook it to the starter, that could be where your short is. It probably burnt through the wire insulation on the black and purple wire. I hope this isn’t the case, but its somewhere to start.
You said you just rebuilt the motor. Where did you hook up the black wire running down to the starter? Lots of people mistakenly hook it to one of the power lugs on the starter. It should go to the bell housing. If you did hook it to the starter, that could be where your short is. It probably burnt through the wire insulation on the black and purple wire. I hope this isn’t the case, but its somewhere to start.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The purple wire on the switch breaks the power. There should be a plug for the switch which will allow you to loop past the neutral safety switch and see if this is your problem.
If you make a bypass wire and loop it, be sure the car is in neutral before testing and do not leave this loop in place. Section 12 sheet D4 of the Assembly manual shows the purple wire connection for your car too!
Willcox
If you make a bypass wire and loop it, be sure the car is in neutral before testing and do not leave this loop in place. Section 12 sheet D4 of the Assembly manual shows the purple wire connection for your car too!
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jan 25, 2009 at 03:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
I know the NSS is bad and I have it unplugged. One of the purple wires running back to the connector that goes up the steering column is showing continuity and is also showing a short to ground. From what I can tell, the purple wire shoud not be grounded??
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Is this a manual shift car? I assume it is.
Mikey is 100 percent correct, this is a hot wire that is interrupted by the neutral safety switch.
Post if it’s an AT or MT, I may have an isolated schematic that may help you.
Willcox
Mikey is 100 percent correct, this is a hot wire that is interrupted by the neutral safety switch.
Post if it’s an AT or MT, I may have an isolated schematic that may help you.
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If your using the buzzer setting on your multi-meter and your checking the purple wire that goes to the S terminal of the starter solenoid it will show a short to ground or make the meter buzz.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
The ohm meter will show continuity to ground on the purple wire going to the S term.If you want to check the (purple) wire only then yes you would have to remove the wire from the S term. but as the others have said by applying 12 v to the purple wire going to the S term the solenoid should engage.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
I dont know for sure in your aplication here but if the purple wire is connected to the coil of the solenoid it will probably read grounded through the coil. Just as , as stated above, marker lights and other electrical loads may read shorted to ground in their natural state. However in my case those lighting circuits switches switch to ground and the hot wire is directly routed to the load. Both sides of the dome light for instance are hot until the switch makes. wow I hope that made sence