looking to see about installing a neutral safety switch on a manual transmission. was wondering if I can take the small ignition wire that goes to the starter solenoid, cut it, go from the ignition switch, to the safety switch on the clutch pedal and go from the clutch pedal to the starter solenoid?
I'm not familiar with the factory clutch pedal safety switches. Are they designed to pass current directly to the solenoid or provide a voltage or ground to trigger a relay, through which the current goes from the ignition switch to the solenoid? The way you describe it will work but make sure the clutch pedal switch can handle the current. If the clutch pedal switch isn't robust enough I'd use a relay.
If I remember correctly the ignition switch feed. Goes through a column mounted switch that is closed with the clutch pedal depressed. The key switch is configured so the key can only be removed with the trans in reverse. Keeps car from accidentally being left in neutral and rolling away. at least that's how my. 71 gs 4 speed was.
This can be done without any cobbling or cutting the factory harness. The automatic car either has a plug in at the base of the steering column or at the shifter in a console car. You simply find the plug in with the two purple wires(already in the car)and run them as an extension harness to a clutch pedal mounted safety switch that is readily available for you to install. This switch should be available and it just pushes into a hole in the pedal and mounts in a fixed position.
75 riv.... the reason is, every once in a while I will go to start the car and forget to put it in neutral or step on the clutch and the car will lurch forward which I believe puts a tremendous strain on the starter, and I have some serious starter issues with this car that I am trying to alleviate.
if I try to hook it up the way that I describe, can I do damage to the starter or wiring if it is too much voltage? can I fry something?
I will try to make this your idea so it is easier to understand. If you were to cut the wire to the starter solenoid from the switch it would be purple. This same purple wire is at the bottom of your steering column. You will see two purple wires on a single plug -in. Rather than cutting them all you have to do is extend them and plug them into a clutch mounted switch. You are merely wiring it safely as the factory did. In other words you are doing exactly what you wanted to without damaging your harness.
Here is a case for having a bypassed one. Years ago I had to bypass mine due to problems. One day, at a traffic light, i ran out of gas. When the light turned green, I simply put the trans in first, cranked it up, and rode the starter motor into the gas station. Of course after I filled up, I needed a jump
