Car won't start

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by James66Skylark, Aug 6, 2017.

  1. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    so I changed the neutral safety switch. The new one went in car started up but my reverse lights still were not working. I put the old switch back in and now when I go to start the car I get nothing. No clicking, not a thing. any suggestions or ideas as to what it could be? Thanks.
     
  2. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    So I changed out the switched and put the new one in and the car starts again. Yet the reverse lights still don't work. I don't get it.

    With the old switch in prior to changing it the reverse lights would come on when the shifter was between park and reverse. With the new one in I get no lights at all.

    It's been a very trying day with the old Buick.
     
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The switch probably needs adjustment.
     
  4. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    What do I need to adjust? Sorry a little new to this.
     
  5. BrianinStLouis

    BrianinStLouis Silver Level contributor

    Check the reverse bulbs too..stranger things have happened.
     
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Look at the switch. Are there slotted mounting holes? Look in the chassis manual. There is an adjustment range on them.
     
  7. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    The neutral safety switch just completes the circuit for the brake lights. There should be a connector with two wires that get plugged into the switch. One wire has 12v going into the switch, the other wire goes out to the back up lights. Jump out the switch. Take a short piece of wire, a cotter pin or whatever and jump the two wires together at the connector. You've now just bypassed what the neutral safety switch does and the back up lights should be on. If they aren't, then you have no 12v on the one wire, the 12v is not getting to the bulbs, the ground is bad at the bulbs or the bulbs are bad as Brian pointed out
     
  8. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Did that. Bought two sets of bulbs just to be sure.
     
  9. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Yes there is slotted mounting holes. There is a piece I can move back and fourth. Is that the adjustment you are talking about? Hopefully my manual comes soon.
     
  10. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Do you have a digital volt ohm meter? If you don't, get one! I have a Fluke 77, awesome meter. I would see if you have continuity through the switch first
     
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Yes, the neutral safety switch prevent the engine from cranking IN GEAR. If it isn't adjusted correctly, the engine won't crank.
     
  12. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Yes I do have one, it's not digital thou.
     
  13. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Ok, that's most likely the reason why it wouldn't crank when I put the older switch back in. But I still don't get why with the new switch in I don't get any reverse lights. With the old switch they were coming on when the car was between park and reverse.
     
  14. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Here is 1 of the wiring pages from the 66 manual NeutralSafety66R.jpg
     
  15. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Thank you.
     
  16. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Where do I start lol. Sorry not very good with electrical. Trying thou.

    I just don't get why with the old switch I get some type of light (between park and reverse) and with the new switch I get nothing.
     
  17. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That's because you wrongly assume that all new parts are good. You should be able to verify that the switch is working with your meter. You should also be able to tell whether you are getting 12 volts to the wire for the reverse lights as Jason mentioned. This is a picture of your switch,

    NeutralSafteySw66.jpg

    The switch moves with the shifter. It needs to be adjusted so that when the shifter is in reverse, it makes continuity with the 2 contacts for the reverse lights. There are 2 wires for the reverse lights, one should have ignition on 12 volts. The other wire goes to the lights. The switch connects the two wires when the shifter is in reverse.

    The other two contacts are for the purple wires. The purple wire goes to the starter solenoid and activates it when you turn the key to crank the engine. The neutral safety switch breaks contact between those 2 purple wires in anything EXCEPT Park, and Neutral.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2017
  18. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Thanks a lot for your help. Electrical is something I need study up on.

    So really I should be able to check the switch by just plugging it in and not mounting it, by moving that tab at the bottom into reverse? As well with the meter like Jason mentioned. I'll also test the reverse wires to see if they are still good or working. I assume they are as the lights would go on between park and reverse. Must be the switch.well atlest I hope it is.
     
  19. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    :D All you need to do is set the meter up to test for continuity. Some meters have a separate range for that with an audible tone. If not, just set it to ohmmeter, touch the leads together and watch the meter go to zero. That indicates continuity. Then attach the leads to each set of contacts independently. Then move the tab and check that you have continuity at the reverse position, and then at Park, and Neutral positions. Not sure I can be any clearer than that.
     
    James66Skylark likes this.
  20. James66Skylark

    James66Skylark Well-Known Member

    Sounds good. I'll try that today. Thanks again.
     

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