Posted by Comick on February 24, 1999 at 23:57:03:
In Reply to: Electrical Gremlin -- need advice-- posted by MicahKev on February 24, 1999 at 23:12:27:
If you have an aftermarket floor shifter, you should have a tension cable that goes from the shifter, through the floor, and hooks on to a metal switch on your tranny. When you switch gears, the cable moves this lever. If the cable is bad, or possibly just misaligned, your transmission may not be shifting all the way into neutral or park. If it is not starting, you might consider shifting it out of neutral and then back and trying agian. If the car starts, it indicates that the cable is the problem. You could also have someone else shift from gear to gear while you are underneath the car, and make sure that each time they shift, it goes completely in gear. Make sure you put the e-brake on first. Don't know if this will help or not, but worth a try... As for the reverse switch, I never did find mine.
: CAR:
: 1971 Maverick 2 door
: Originally a three on the tree, now a C-4 with after market floor shifter that does not have a neutral or park safety switch.
: PROBLEM:
: I am unable to start vehicle from the ignition switch. Ignition comes on but the started does not crank over at the ignition switch. The vehicle does start if ignition is on and the solenoid is jumped.
: I had this same event happen to me about two years ago. I was working behind the instrument cluster. I had done this many times before. After putting everything back together, it would not start. Checked all the connections, no effect. Replaced the ignition switch, no effect. No blown fuses. Starter solenoid is OK. Wires from firewall to solenoid OK. After hours of working on it, I gave up. The next time I tried it, it started. I have no idea why.
: Last weekend, same scenario, I was working behind the instrument cluster. I was looking for the wires to hook up the sport lamps. I did not change or add anything. I put everything back together and started the vehicle two ore three times without a problem. I drove to the store and then found it would not crank over the starter. I jumped the started solenoid and it started with no problem. I have been doing this for the last four days.
: I am suspecting that the switch that requires the vehicle to be started in neutral or reverse is bad. This is an old three on the tree that was converted to automatic twelve years ago. The steering column still has the 3 speed collar. I do not suspect the ignition switch since it is fairly new had had no effect the previous incident. The wiring harness from the firewall to the solenoid was replaced from a Grabber Maverick several weeks ago without incident. I’m adding the grill with the sport lights. I fully inspected the “new” harness before installation. I do not think there is a wiring problem from the fuse box forward.
:
: HAS ANYONE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE?
: WHERE IS THE NEUTRAL/REVERSE SAFETY SWITCH ON A THREE SPEED?
: DOES ANYONE HAVE A WIRING DIAGRAM?
: I will be working on it this weekend and welcome any suggestions.
: Thanks,
: MicahKev