C4 Neutral start switch

Discussion in 'Transmissions' started by Ronald Hopkins, Jan 10, 2021.

  1. BBMS18

    BBMS18 Member

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    Most of us can only hope to acquirer half the knowledge that Craig knows about these cars.:bowdown:
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2021
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  2. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Connector in my June '72 Comet. The pict of cable Craig posted no doubt routes to this connector.

    Yeah it's dirty, one place I haven't ventured into, will do some housekeeping when I convert to floor shifter.

    cometneutralsafetysw 005.JPG

    The transmission from my '71 still has switch in place. Cable on sw is around two ft long, no doubt reached to connector at firewall exit.

    Wad of extra wires were for a aftermarket cruise control that was on car.

    cometneutralsafetysw 006.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2021
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  3. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Trying to find the correct harness would be tough....but I suppose you might find one.

    Here is the hole in the firewall for the harness to go thru.

    firewall hole.jpg
     
  4. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Another picture of the harness.

    floor shift wire.jpg
     
  5. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    Some pictures of the switch.

    tranny neutral switch.jpg tranny rods 3.jpg
     
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  6. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    For my '71 Comet, connector protruding through firewall is part of the dash harness. There was no intermediate harness, switch connector plugs directly into it.

    This thread has settled it for me. In addition to the Comet shifter, I have a similar Mustang unit with switch inside shifter. I'll either use it, or convert the Comet shifter to internal switch.
     
  7. Ronald Hopkins

    Ronald Hopkins Member Supporting Member

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    The switch on mine has two plugs on it. they are just like the larger plug on the picture you are showing. I'm talking about the square plugs with the two connectors coming from it. Thanks so much for your help. Could it be that one is going into the switch and the other one coming out for the backup lights and the shifter housing light?
     
  8. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    On switch there should be one square connecter, with two male & two female connections, total of four wires. One wire connects power from fuse box for backup, while another feeds power to lights. Two remaining wires, one is from ign switch(start), other feeds to firewall bulkhead connector and from there to solenoid to operate starter. Should be no wires on transmission switch that connect to light. Its powered by a independent connector on shifter, light has it's own single wire with male plug.

    Pictured is my Mustang shifter with internal neutral safety switch. Shifter sw has four wires described above(connections same as transmission switch), plus single pin wire to light. My Comet shifter has only the single wire for light. That wire connects back to dash light circuit via single female connector.

    Cometmustangshifters 003.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2021
  9. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

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  10. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    The SW 1028 Craig pictured is listed for '71 & early '72 models. Same switch(apparently) used on my '71, plugs directly into the connector on firewall behind engine. Connector from firewall part of dash harness, no intermediate harness used.

    OK...... I did some digging, apparently the SW 1148 switch used for late '72 applications does have two connectors(leave it to Ford to muck up something simple). See page one of this thread for listings.

    With the dual connector plug used on the 1148 switch, a extension/adapter harness would no doubt be necessary. What's still missing is how did the later '72 route the cable? I don't see Ford punching a hole in firewall, as the six connector is larger than opening in the '71. My bet is is under carpet.

    Dash harness part numbers also list early & late with no distinction between column & floor shift. No doubt in my mind the six wire plug in my late '72 was used for both column & floor shift applications.

    sw1148neutralsafety.JPG
     
  11. Ronald Hopkins

    Ronald Hopkins Member Supporting Member

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    That's what I have on mine. I think that a jumper harness would be required. Maybe one plug is for power into the neutral switch and the other plug is for the shifter light and back up lights.
     
  12. Ronald Hopkins

    Ronald Hopkins Member Supporting Member

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    I have a floor shift column laying on my work bench. At the bottom of the column there is a harness for the lights. It is like a semi circle and there is a square pin connector I think it is the same for the column and floor shift. I am going to check. It could use a different connector for the floor shift. I can take a picture of the connecter but I have never had any luck posting pictures on this web site.
     
  13. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    My column shift '72 has a six wire connector on the main harness for the neutral safety switch.. Same should be on ALL '72 built after Dec '71.

    I believe the extra two wires have something to do with operating the brake warning lamp during engine start. But then I may be FOS. Wiring diagrams for both '72 & '73 show connector as four connections. Possibly the two connections for brake warning are shown separately for simplicity, wiring diagrams in the era were piss poorly drawn..

    72cometneutralswconnector..JPG
     
  14. Ronald Hopkins

    Ronald Hopkins Member Supporting Member

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    You can say that again about the wiring diagrams. I was a heavy equipment mechanic for 31 years and we had good ones. I retired from that and became a Insurance agent for about 7 years. I won't be retiring a third time.
     
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  15. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    I worked TV for around 38 years. With schematics drawn by Ford, would have taken days to sort through the conglomeration. Though some microfiche cards were almost as bad.

    I did find this info in a Mustang wiring diagram. Neutral safety, backup & brake warning illumination circuits are in same six pin connector. No not drawn together, but it's noted are same connector. This is a colorized, aftermarket, more modern style wiring diagram.

    The extra two wires are purple/white, fairly obvious in the snip I posted above.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2021
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