help with wiring, truck wont start. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 07:25 PM

in the middle of a cab swap here.

i just put the cab harness in and connected it to the engine harness at the firewall. hooked up the battery, hooked up the wires to the steering column. hooked up the wires to the ignition.

i figured it wasnt going to start like this but now what else needs to be connected in order to get some juice going when i turn the key?

cdowns · 04-02-2003, 07:33 PM

neutral safty switch

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cdowns
neutral safty switch

hymm excuse my stupidity, which one is this? what does it look like and where does it plug into?

cdowns · 04-02-2003, 07:41 PM

if you have an automatic tranny its located at the bottom of the steering column and 2heavy gague purple wires go to it

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cdowns
if you have an automatic tranny its located at the bottom of the steering column and 2heavy gague purple wires go to it

these are the only wires i have coming from the steering column. they go to a clip that is shaped like a half circle.

and yes it is an automatic.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 07:51 PM

heres some pictures of other things i have connected. do these things have to be touching unpainted metal or anything? i dont have them on that tight.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 07:52 PM

one more

Blue68 · 04-02-2003, 08:02 PM

Seeing as how you don't have a column in the truck, it might be hard to plug in the neutral switch. It is on the steering column under the dash. I think you can take it off and plug in to it and make sure the switch thinks it's in park.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blue68
Seeing as how you don't have a column in the truck, it might be hard to plug in the neutral switch. It is on the steering column under the dash. I think you can take it off and plug in to it and make sure the switch thinks it's in park.

i just had the column lying on the floorboard and i plugged in that round clip which is basically the only wires coming out of the steering column, im thinking the column might not have been shifted up into the park position? gonna go try now.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 09:05 PM

ARRGG kragen tested my battery and said it was bad, so i bought a new one and it still wont start! damnit

im not sure what the problem could be? the only things unplugged were the wires inside the cab as i was swapping cabs. ive hooked up the plug with all the wires from the column, which im assuming is the nuetral saftety switch, i have the column in park... but no cigar?

**CPNE** · 04-02-2003, 09:24 PM

The pic with the wires in your hand show the brake light switch (plug in palm), the backup light switch plug (between fingers), and the neutral/safety switch (center one). Look at your column. At the base (where rubber grommet that seals firewall is) you should see a black switch with sets for electical spades protruding from it. One set is backup, the other is neutral/safety. The ignition system won't work unless the neutral/saftey switch is on. This happens when lever is in park or neutral. You can either plug in the N/S switch to the column, or jump it with a wire for your testing puposes. Either way will complete the circuit. The half-moon plug further up the column is for horn, flashers, signals, etc. Hope this makes sense.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-02-2003, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CPNE
The pic with the wires in your hand show the brake light switch (plug in palm), the backup light switch plug (between fingers), and the neutral/safety switch (center one). Look at your column. At the base (where rubber grommet that seals firewall is) you should see a black switch with sets for electical spades protruding from it. One set is backup, the other is neutral/safety. The ignition system won't work unless the neutral/saftey switch is on. This happens when lever is in park or neutral. You can either plug in the N/S switch to the column, or jump it with a wire for your testing puposes. Either way will complete the circuit. The half-moon plug further up the column is for horn, flashers, signals, etc. Hope this makes sense.

thanks... ill take a look at it tomorrow.

another thing i realized is the cab isnt grounded. the old cab had no ground straps, i didnt disconnect any and it lifted up fine. the truck was starting and running with that old cab on. i took a set of jumper cables and just tried grounding the new cab to the frame that way. hopefully all it was is this neutral safety switch. ill try tomorrow.

72MARIO · 04-02-2003, 09:39 PM

Ground might Help.......

Blue Beard · 04-02-2003, 11:34 PM

Make sure you have the wires all connected where the right front fender at the juction box on the fender. I had one wire missing and had absolutely no power.

da-burb · 04-02-2003, 11:42 PM

you can bypass the neutral safety switch. Make a jumper wire and connect the 2 purple wires together. It should be the middle plug that is in your hand in the picture above.

Dropt72Shortbed · 04-03-2003, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blue Beard
Make sure you have the wires all connected where the right front fender at the juction box on the fender. I had one wire missing and had absolutely no power.

i would check it but nothing was touched there. im guessing its the nuetral safety switch like everyones saying as its obvious i didnt have it connected. i also need to ground the cab better.

thanks for all the help guys.

Longhorn Man · 04-03-2003, 12:35 AM

A bad cab ground won't keep the engine from starting.
I'd just bypass the safety switch for the momen. That will rule out a bad safety switch.

Blue Beard · 04-03-2003, 01:48 PM

Are you getting any power to the cab?

04-02-2003, 07:25 PM	#1
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	help with wiring, truck wont start. in the middle of a cab swap here. i just put the cab harness in and connected it to the engine harness at the firewall. hooked up the battery, hooked up the wires to the steering column. hooked up the wires to the ignition. i figured it wasnt going to start like this but now what else needs to be connected in order to get some juice going when i turn the key?

04-02-2003, 07:33 PM	#2
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	neutral safty switch __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

04-02-2003, 07:41 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	if you have an automatic tranny its located at the bottom of the steering column and 2heavy gague purple wires go to it __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

04-02-2003, 07:51 PM	#6
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	heres some pictures of other things i have connected. do these things have to be touching unpainted metal or anything? i dont have them on that tight. Attached Images

04-02-2003, 07:52 PM	#7
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	one more Attached Images

04-02-2003, 08:02 PM	#8
Blue68 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Frisco, Tx, USA Posts: 606	Seeing as how you don't have a column in the truck, it might be hard to plug in the neutral switch. It is on the steering column under the dash. I think you can take it off and plug in to it and make sure the switch thinks it's in park. __________________ http://home.comcast.net/~r.landrum/w...tos.html-.html '68 C-10 LWB, '98 Z-71 350 w/accessories (Serpentine), Edelbrock Performer, Edelbrock 1405 (600cfm) carb, GM HEI, CompCam Extreme 4x4 roller cam, Thorley Headers, Carter Electric Fuel Pump, Vintage Air, 700r4, 3.73, disc brakes and power steering upgrades.

04-02-2003, 09:05 PM	#10
Dropt72Shortbed Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Huntington Beach CA Posts: 678	ARRGG kragen tested my battery and said it was bad, so i bought a new one and it still wont start! damnit im not sure what the problem could be? the only things unplugged were the wires inside the cab as i was swapping cabs. ive hooked up the plug with all the wires from the column, which im assuming is the nuetral saftety switch, i have the column in park... but no cigar?

04-02-2003, 09:24 PM	#11
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	The pic with the wires in your hand show the brake light switch (plug in palm), the backup light switch plug (between fingers), and the neutral/safety switch (center one). Look at your column. At the base (where rubber grommet that seals firewall is) you should see a black switch with sets for electical spades protruding from it. One set is backup, the other is neutral/safety. The ignition system won't work unless the neutral/saftey switch is on. This happens when lever is in park or neutral. You can either plug in the N/S switch to the column, or jump it with a wire for your testing puposes. Either way will complete the circuit. The half-moon plug further up the column is for horn, flashers, signals, etc. Hope this makes sense. __________________ 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

04-02-2003, 09:39 PM	#13
72MARIO Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntsville Ontario Canada Posts: 4,052	Ground might Help....... __________________ 1968 Suburban numbers matching all original truck now equipped with 6.0/4L80 on Accuair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625017 1967 C/20 6.0/4L80 Roofing Truck 1990 V2500 Suburban "Plow Truck" 2005 TAHOE DD

04-02-2003, 11:34 PM	#14
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	Make sure you have the wires all connected where the right front fender at the juction box on the fender. I had one wire missing and had absolutely no power. __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

04-02-2003, 11:42 PM	#15
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	you can bypass the neutral safety switch. Make a jumper wire and connect the 2 purple wires together. It should be the middle plug that is in your hand in the picture above. __________________ 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, 12:35 AM	#17
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	A bad cab ground won't keep the engine from starting. I'd just bypass the safety switch for the momen. That will rule out a bad safety switch.

04-03-2003, 01:48 PM	#18
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	Are you getting any power to the cab? __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo



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