need more help on neutral safety switch/wiring. truck still wont start - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-03-2003, 07:03 PM

ok you guys pointed out that i didnt have my neutral safety switch hooked up in the pictures i posted. i looked at my column, there is no where for those wires to plug into the column, in fact other than the round semi circle connector coming off the steering column, there is NO where to plug anything into the column (see picture below)

also you guys said the neutral safety switch had two heavy guage purple wires on it. in the picture i posted of the clip you guys said was in fact the neutral safety switch, the wires are both green, not purple. the only thick heavy guage purple wire i have is going to the ignition key.

despite the colors being wrong i tried to jump the wires together on then neutral safety switch like you guys told me to do. still wont start. i dont think its getting any power. nothing was changed on the front end of the truck since it last started a month ago, only the cab wiring was removed for a cab swap.

any other ideas?

as you can tell i know jack about wiring. i took pictures of all the wiring before i removed it and saved it on my computer, now of course i cant find the pictures!!!

i might just have to have it towed over to a local shop and have them install a new harness or something.

heres the pics of the column, where is the neutral safety switch supposed to plug in? i threw on a ruler so you can let me know about where?

jays68yak · 04-03-2003, 07:27 PM

Should be two connectors going to the NS. One set with green wires and one set with purple wires. You need to find the purple wires. That should be your problem. I know one of the wires coems from the ing switch.

Good luck

da-burb · 04-03-2003, 09:07 PM

Your switch should be screwed to the column in the top picture at 3-3/8" on your ruler. The rectangular hole is where it belongs.

You should really get yourself a simple $7 test light. Then you will know if there is juice at the switch. Since this has been apart, every connection from the battery back is suspect. Do you have the red wire connected at the small junction block next to the battery? Is the inline fues good? Check there and work your way back to the firewall. The heavy red wire will be the hot feed all the way up to the switch. Then it is the heavy purple wire down to the starter. Good luck!

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-03-2003, 09:41 PM

hymm apparently my truck never had a neutral safety switch... kinda interesting that it was starting up fine without it before i did the cab swap?

where can i buy a new neutral safety switch? is this a simple install or does a shop have to do it?

**CPNE** · 04-03-2003, 10:11 PM

Questions:

1. Did your truck start life as an automatic? If not and the original harness is still in place you won't have a neutral/saftey switch so the whole topic is moot. Does not explain not turning over but at least you can move beyond this point.

2. Was there any non-stock wiring under your dash and/or odd switches? Perhaps someone installed an ignition cutoff switch as part of an "anti-theft" deterrent?

3. You must have removed your ignition switch to do the swap. Check to make sure all wires are firmly seated in the back of the switch. If you are using a different ignition switch, replace it with the original.

4. Do your headlights work?

5. Does your blower fan work when ifnition is in on position?

6 How the heck did your backup lights work without the switrch on the column?

If #4 and # 5 are no, then no jiuce to fusebox. Double check the coupling of the harnesses on the outside of the firewall, maybe they are not connected securely. The red wire that runs from the junction on the pass side fender is what brings the electricity to the cab.

You need to get a tester, couple of bucks. Use it to further check for jiuce at the fuse box, the "ignition unswitched" or cig lighter spades will work for this. If nothing there then you need to move to outside cab firewall and work back

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-03-2003, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CPNE
Questions:

1. Did your truck start life as an automatic? If not and the original harness is still in place you won't have a neutral/saftey switch so the whole topic is moot. Does not explain not turning over but at least you can move beyond this point.

bingo!

damn im an idiot why didnt i think of that!

no according to the vin# it was a 6cyl 3 spd! must be the original harness with no neutral safety switch...

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-03-2003, 10:40 PM

thanks for the help CPNE

good check list.. im gonna go buy a tester this weekend and try track down whats not working.

i called a few shops thinking i would just buy all new wiring harnesses from gmcpauls (lol my shopping cart came to $500+! in harnesses) and the shops were telling me stuff like $600-$1000 labor!

i soon realized i need to figure this out on my own, i dont have that kinda cash!

2labman · 08-01-2017, 12:17 PM

I'm having the same problem with my 71 blazer it's a 4 speed and didn't even have a nss on it so I bought one and know I need to put the purple wires on it but idk what other 2 wires I'm supposed to put on it or where the switch gets power from
Posted via Mobile Device

**SIXTY9** · 08-01-2017, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2labman

I'm having the same problem with my 71 blazer it's a 4 speed and didn't even have a nss on it so I bought one and know I need to put the purple wires on it but idk what other 2 wires I'm supposed to put on it or where the switch gets power from
Posted via Mobile Device

The other two connections are for the reverse lights on a automatic. If I am not mistaken the trucks with standard transmissions did not have a safety switch. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

OUbesto · 08-01-2017, 02:52 PM

Agree with sixty9, manual trans did not use a NSS.

Andy4639 · 08-01-2017, 09:23 PM

Vehicles with straight drives DO NOT have NSS neutral safety switches. Most manual transmissions have a plug on the case for the backup lights.

04-03-2003, 07:03 PM	#1
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	need more help on neutral safety switch/wiring. truck still wont start ok you guys pointed out that i didnt have my neutral safety switch hooked up in the pictures i posted. i looked at my column, there is no where for those wires to plug into the column, in fact other than the round semi circle connector coming off the steering column, there is NO where to plug anything into the column (see picture below) also you guys said the neutral safety switch had two heavy guage purple wires on it. in the picture i posted of the clip you guys said was in fact the neutral safety switch, the wires are both green, not purple. the only thick heavy guage purple wire i have is going to the ignition key. despite the colors being wrong i tried to jump the wires together on then neutral safety switch like you guys told me to do. still wont start. i dont think its getting any power. nothing was changed on the front end of the truck since it last started a month ago, only the cab wiring was removed for a cab swap. any other ideas? as you can tell i know jack about wiring. i took pictures of all the wiring before i removed it and saved it on my computer, now of course i cant find the pictures!!! i might just have to have it towed over to a local shop and have them install a new harness or something. heres the pics of the column, where is the neutral safety switch supposed to plug in? i threw on a ruler so you can let me know about where? Attached Images Last edited by Dropt72Shortbed; 04-03-2003 at 07:06 PM.

04-03-2003, 07:27 PM	#2
jays68yak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 1,454	Should be two connectors going to the NS. One set with green wires and one set with purple wires. You need to find the purple wires. That should be your problem. I know one of the wires coems from the ing switch. Good luck __________________ 1969 Chevy Project SWB Fleet, 20s, 5.3, t56, in the weeds. 1970 Chevy Truck cab on a 1979 Jimmy frame-8.1 liter 496 bbc/sm465/np203-jeds doubler-np205/d60/14bff Welded/42 tsls on recentered H1s 1998 Chevy Crew Cab K3500 SAS'd with hpd60, links and swayaway coilovers. 8.1l vortec DD/towrig "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. "

04-03-2003, 09:07 PM	#3
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Your switch should be screwed to the column in the top picture at 3-3/8" on your ruler. The rectangular hole is where it belongs. You should really get yourself a simple $7 test light. Then you will know if there is juice at the switch. Since this has been apart, every connection from the battery back is suspect. Do you have the red wire connected at the small junction block next to the battery? Is the inline fues good? Check there and work your way back to the firewall. The heavy red wire will be the hot feed all the way up to the switch. Then it is the heavy purple wire down to the starter. Good luck! __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

04-03-2003, 10:11 PM	#5
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Questions: 1. Did your truck start life as an automatic? If not and the original harness is still in place you won't have a neutral/saftey switch so the whole topic is moot. Does not explain not turning over but at least you can move beyond this point. 2. Was there any non-stock wiring under your dash and/or odd switches? Perhaps someone installed an ignition cutoff switch as part of an "anti-theft" deterrent? 3. You must have removed your ignition switch to do the swap. Check to make sure all wires are firmly seated in the back of the switch. If you are using a different ignition switch, replace it with the original. 4. Do your headlights work? 5. Does your blower fan work when ifnition is in on position? 6 How the heck did your backup lights work without the switrch on the column? If #4 and # 5 are no, then no jiuce to fusebox. Double check the coupling of the harnesses on the outside of the firewall, maybe they are not connected securely. The red wire that runs from the junction on the pass side fender is what brings the electricity to the cab. You need to get a tester, couple of bucks. Use it to further check for jiuce at the fuse box, the "ignition unswitched" or cig lighter spades will work for this. If nothing there then you need to move to outside cab firewall and work back __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all Last edited by CPNE; 04-03-2003 at 10:15 PM.

08-01-2017, 02:52 PM	#10
OUbesto Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Lincolnshire, IL / Burlington, WI Posts: 209	Re: need more help on neutral safety switch/wiring. truck still wont start Agree with sixty9, manual trans did not use a NSS. __________________ 1970 C-10 CST, LWB, 402/400, A/C

04-03-2003, 09:41 PM	#4
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	hymm apparently my truck never had a neutral safety switch... kinda interesting that it was starting up fine without it before i did the cab swap? where can i buy a new neutral safety switch? is this a simple install or does a shop have to do it?

04-03-2003, 10:40 PM	#7
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	thanks for the help CPNE good check list.. im gonna go buy a tester this weekend and try track down whats not working. i called a few shops thinking i would just buy all new wiring harnesses from gmcpauls (lol my shopping cart came to $500+! in harnesses) and the shops were telling me stuff like $600-$1000 labor! i soon realized i need to figure this out on my own, i dont have that kinda cash!

08-01-2017, 12:17 PM	#8
2labman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Indiana Posts: 5	I'm having the same problem with my 71 blazer it's a 4 speed and didn't even have a nss on it so I bought one and know I need to put the purple wires on it but idk what other 2 wires I'm supposed to put on it or where the switch gets power from Posted via Mobile Device

08-01-2017, 09:23 PM	#11
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: need more help on neutral safety switch/wiring. truck still wont start *Vehicles with straight drives DO NOT* have NSS neutral safety switches. Most manual transmissions have a plug on the case for the backup lights. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.**



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