Neutral Safety Switch?
 

if the neutral safety switch is bad will it keep burning out starters and i dont have back up lights and it starts in drive and its a 1971 c20 350 3 spd automatic

Re: Neutral Safety Switch?
 

These older trucks didn't have neutral safety switches. I don't think they started being used until the mid 70's. I could be wrong though. I know that my 72 c20 doesn't have one. But my old 86 suburban did. Hope that helps

Re: Neutral Safety Switch?
 

The switch depends on either it being a automatic or standard transmission. The automatic trans trucks it is on the steering column, on top of the tube near the firewall, probably next to the rubber seal.the standard transmission trucks had the switch on the transmissions.it has two purple wires on it and two green wires for the back up lights.
HTH,
Ben
:metal:

Re: Neutral Safety Switch?
 

To answer your question, no it will not burn up the starter. It may cause a non-crank issue, but if the switch is bad, it will not send power to the starter solenoid via the purple wire.

Re: Neutral Safety Switch?
 

Switch is bad or at a minimum severely misadjusted. That's why it starts in Drive and why you are missing backup lights. Grab a new one, problem solved!

If it came loose on the column, even easier, but unlikely unless you've been monkeying with it recently.

Re: Neutral Safety Switch?
 

I've had intermittent cranking issues due to the neutral safety switch. Sometimes fine, sometimes nothing, sometimes cranking then clunking then disengaging. The symptoms can be like a bad starter, bad teeth, bad ignition switch, or anything other issues that occur in the start circuit

No neutral safety switch on manuals till later years