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Neutral Safety Switch Wiring Oddity

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Old May 8, 2017 | 06:34 AM
  #21  
Paul B 1971's Avatar
Paul B 1971
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Originally Posted by ...Roger...
This might be difficult to understand but I'll try.
During "testing" (not guessing) if one of our members is asking for help and goes to the switch and puts a 12v test light on the exposed terminal of the purple/white and the test light fails to light he is going to assume at that point there is no power coming from the ignition switch because he was testing the WRONG wire.

We've all experienced these little wrong turns while diagnosing an electrical problem ,which for some of us is a momentary hmmm but for a rookie it can have him dropping the steering column to inspect the ignition switch and then "Corvette electrical system overload".
hi, I am just having trouble getting the safety switch working on my 71, can you tell me where the 2 purple wires go, as when i close the contacts in the switch ( i have it apart) the car starts fine, but as i understand it when the contacts are open, i can still start the car....so i was wondering if they lead to a relay that may be faulty

any help appreciated
​​​​​​​Paul
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Old May 8, 2017 | 06:50 AM
  #22  
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Hi Paul,
Welcome!
First Post! I'm glad you're here!
I believe you'll find that the 12 gauge purple wire runs to the solenoid on the starter in one direction, and to the ignition switch in the other.
Regards,
Alan
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Old May 8, 2017 | 07:34 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Paul,
Welcome!
First Post! I'm glad you're here!
I believe you'll find that the 12 gauge purple wire runs to the solenoid on the starter in one direction, and to the ignition switch in the other.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks, i cant work out why it starts in gear when the switch is open...any ideas?
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Old May 8, 2017 | 07:42 AM
  #24  
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Hi Paul,
Sometimes bubba felt he didn't need the safety switch and ran a wire to by-pass it.
Have you looked for any sign of some of his 'add-on' electrical work?
Regards,
Alan
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Old May 8, 2017 | 07:51 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Paul,
Sometimes bubba felt he didn't need the safety switch and ran a wire to by-pass it.
Have you looked for any sign of some of his 'add-on' electrical work?
Regards,
Alan
the purple wires dissapear into the harness in the console and look to be un altered, might have to check further along for bubbas work....
cheers
​​​​​​​Paul
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Old May 8, 2017 | 08:25 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Paul B 1971
the purple wires dissapear into the harness in the console and look to be un altered, might have to check further along for bubbas work....
cheers
​​​​​​​Paul
Mmmmm..... I just checked the starter solenoid and there is a white wire with a home crimped end on it where a fat purple wire should be. Bubba....

will check ignition switch tomorrow, getting late here in Australia

​​​​​​​thanks
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Old May 8, 2017 | 09:02 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Paul,
Sometimes bubba felt he didn't need the safety switch and ran a wire to by-pass it.
Have you looked for any sign of some of his 'add-on' electrical work?
Regards,
Alan
Alan is correct about the "add on" electrical work. Many of us old guys have bypassed the switch only to re-locate it some other place, basically a theft deterrent when one goes into a store, just flip the switch. Usually the new switch was mounted under the ashtray, easy to get to.

Some people can get really creative and create a wiring disaster.
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Old Jul 19, 2018 | 02:26 PM
  #28  
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From: Dracut Ma
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Hello All,
I am glad I found this post. I am having some difficulty with my NSS on a 1975. Took apart the shifter and notice some cut wires. The PO put in an inline 20 amp fuse. Fuse was blown. Replaced it and she started right up. Problem now is it continues to blow once I shift to N. Checked the wiring but do not see anything out of the ordinary. But then again I'm learning. Why bypass the switch?
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I know this is an old thread but can someone tell me why the NSS has power coming in from both the blinker/reverse circuit AND the gauge hot circuit? In my head it's so the seatbelt buzzer will still work if the blinker fuse is blown but it seems like that would also mean that the reverse lights could be powered from the gauge circuit?
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