[Flashflood]

My mechanic that was working on 77 pontiac lemans has passed away leaving me with a still none running vehicle. It still needs a new neutral safety switch and the purple wire ran out to the starter. Can anyone give me the location of the neutral safety switch preferably a pic of it hooked up. If not how do you paypass it? I've got brand new engine that's just been sitting outside.

[johnta1]

Is this automatic tranny?
The neutral switch is part of the reverse light switch.
Should be on the steering column under dash, probably have to drop it down to see it.


To by pass it just connect the 2 purple wires together.
But it would start in any tranny position ... drive, reverse etc.

[Flashflood]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Is this automatic tranny?
The neutral switch is part of the reverse light switch.
Should be on the steering column under dash, probably have to drop it down to see it.


To by pass it just connect the 2 purple wires together.
But it would start in any tranny position ... drive, reverse etc.

Yes it's an auto tranny. Do you know of the wire to reverse lights? I'll see if I can't figure this out before hand.

[johnta1]

This is what the switch looks like probably. (Firebird but should look about same)







The plug connector for the reverse light is Lt. Green that goes to the lights and Pink/Black stripe is the power for it.


The reverse connector has Purple wires which are bigger than the other connector wires. One is powered from ignition switch and the other Purple wire goes to the starter for cranking it.

[Flashflood]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Is this automatic tranny?
The neutral switch is part of the reverse light switch.
Should be on the steering column under dash, probably have to drop it down to see it.


To by pass it just connect the 2 purple wires together.
But it would start in any tranny position ... drive, reverse etc.

Originally Posted by johnta1

This is what the switch looks like probably. (Firebird but should look about same)







The plug connector for the reverse light is Lt. Green that goes to the lights and Pink/Black stripe is the power for it.


The reverse connector has Purple wires which are bigger than the other connector wires. One is powered from ignition switch and the other Purple wire goes to the starter for cranking it.

Yup went over to car today to grab the battery to throw it on the charger. Looked under the dash and sure enough found it right away. I've got a new n.s.s on order, so I'll replace it as well as purple wire.

[unruhjonny]

iirc the purple wires are only about the starter circuit;
That circuit as built remains open unless it's in one of the proper positions to allow starting (park and neutral iirc).
For a manual transmission car, those purple wires connect to the clutch switch - to ensure that the clutch is depressed before the starter can engage.

[Flashflood]

Well I bypassed it for now. But as I was putting coolant back in the radiator. I noticed it dripping it popped a freeze plug while over at the mechanics. I'm hoping the motor not toast.