Won't Start - Safety Switch?
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Joined: May 2008
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From: Apex NC
Won't Start - Safety Switch?
Two issues:
1) Got a 70, 454, 4 speed that was running fine, then all of a sudden won't start. I replaced the lock cylinder and the ignition switch, but it did not resolve the problem. With key on, all wires at the ignition switchs are hot except the purple w/white strip. The two purple wires to the clutch safety switch are not hot at any time. Shouldn't at least one of the wires to the safety switch be hot? Any suggestions?
2) In all the diagrams I have, the ignition switch is comprised of two boxes, one white and one black. My black box has the red and orange wires that the diagrams show. The white box has the pink, purple w/white strip, and brown that the diagrams show, but also has a red wire that the diagrams do not show. Does anybody know what this red wire is for/what it activates?
1) Got a 70, 454, 4 speed that was running fine, then all of a sudden won't start. I replaced the lock cylinder and the ignition switch, but it did not resolve the problem. With key on, all wires at the ignition switchs are hot except the purple w/white strip. The two purple wires to the clutch safety switch are not hot at any time. Shouldn't at least one of the wires to the safety switch be hot? Any suggestions?
2) In all the diagrams I have, the ignition switch is comprised of two boxes, one white and one black. My black box has the red and orange wires that the diagrams show. The white box has the pink, purple w/white strip, and brown that the diagrams show, but also has a red wire that the diagrams do not show. Does anybody know what this red wire is for/what it activates?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 127
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From: Monroe Washington
won't start
Two issues:
1) Got a 70, 454, 4 speed that was running fine, then all of a sudden won't start. I replaced the lock cylinder and the ignition switch, but it did not resolve the problem. With key on, all wires at the ignition switchs are hot except the purple w/white strip. The two purple wires to the clutch safety switch are not hot at any time. Shouldn't at least one of the wires to the safety switch be hot? Any suggestions?
2) In all the diagrams I have, the ignition switch is comprised of two boxes, one white and one black. My black box has the red and orange wires that the diagrams show. The whisafteyte box has the pink, purple w/white strip, and brown that the diagrams show, but also has a red wire that the diagrams do not show. Does anybody know what this red wire is for/what it activates?
1) Got a 70, 454, 4 speed that was running fine, then all of a sudden won't start. I replaced the lock cylinder and the ignition switch, but it did not resolve the problem. With key on, all wires at the ignition switchs are hot except the purple w/white strip. The two purple wires to the clutch safety switch are not hot at any time. Shouldn't at least one of the wires to the safety switch be hot? Any suggestions?
2) In all the diagrams I have, the ignition switch is comprised of two boxes, one white and one black. My black box has the red and orange wires that the diagrams show. The whisafteyte box has the pink, purple w/white strip, and brown that the diagrams show, but also has a red wire that the diagrams do not show. Does anybody know what this red wire is for/what it activates?
Is the safety cable connected to the steering column in the engine bay? If not, try raising the lever on the steering column all the way up. Any luck?
Ron 1970
Last edited by Rontech; Feb 25, 2011 at 02:15 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
its easy enough to by pass the safety switch to see if that is your problem, just unplug it and run a jumper from one of the connections to the other.....strangely enough because of the way a torque converter is made the car will start with out any problem even if it is in gear....it only moves once the car hits a certain rpm.
and yes i beleive one of those purple wires should be hot.
and yes i beleive one of those purple wires should be hot.
Last edited by bobs77vet; Feb 25, 2011 at 02:58 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
but its only hot when the key is rotated to the start position
