[Kelz]

I was at the local tire shop getting my wheels balanced,
while they were checking the front end I was able to look
under the car. As I was inspecting the transmission I noticec
three sets of wires coming out of the trans. The first set
of wires is hooked up (I'm sure these are the backup lights).
The next two sets of wires are just hangin there with nothin
to plug them into. Question - what are these wires for????
BTW - the car is a 77 280z stock. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Unknown User]

Automatic or Manual?

 

[escanlon]

One set should be as you said, the connections for reverse.

The others could be one of several:

Manual Transmission: Neutral Position Interlock

Automatic: Overdrive, or Temperature Sensor for Timing

FWIW

 

[Kelz]

Sorry - its Manual, 4speed

Whoops left that part out its a 4 speed manual.
whats the neutral position interlock?
Thanks.

 

[johnb510]

don't worry about the extra wires

they are for a auto tranny (inhibitor switch, downshift solenoid).

 

[Kelz]

Re: don't worry about the extra wires

Thanks for all the help. You tell me that they
are for an automatic and not to worry, but the
wires are coming out of my manual tranny.

 

[johnb510]

Re: don't worry about the extra wires

The only wires that are coming out of a manual tranny will be the wires on the reverse light switch. (two wires, both green on the wiring harness)
Have another look...

 

[Kelz]

guys I'm not blind

The wires do come out of the tranny in pairs. The
first set is hooked up (backup lights). Then there
is another set (two wires) about a foot back from
the first set. Then approximately a foot back is
another set of wires coming out of the tranny.
I was under the car when it was on the lift looking at
the tranny.

Thanks for the help - I will look again when I get off
work. I wasn't really worried about it cause everything
seems to be working right. Just really curious.

 

[tcagle222]

"" Question - what are these wires for????
BTW - the car is a 77 280z stock.""

On a 76 280z there is a high gear switch. This goes to a valve that supplies vacume to the distributor. This vacume advance is only suplied when in high gear.
don't know if it is 2 or 4 wires for that. Also one might be for the cat converter high temp sensor which should be close to there.

tc

 

[escanlon]

Re: Neutral Position Interlock

I may have used the wrong terminology, but basically this is a switch inside the manual tranny that locks out the starter when the tranny is in gear AND the clutch is NOT depressed.

I know that a lot of people will automatically assume that you have to have the clutch depressed to start the engine, but in fact the car will start in NEUTRAL without the clutch being depressed. I'm going on memory on this one, about 12 years ago I did a complete restoration on a manual 70 240z and I recall being able to start the engine from outside the car as long as the car was in neutral.

Easy way to check, put a continuity checker on the pair of wires, put the car in neutral and see if you have a circuit, if not, check the opposite, put the car in gear and see if that closes the circuit. Whether it's open or closed in neutral and closed or open respectively in gear will indicate that it does report the position of the tranny, i.e. in gear or not.

FWIW

 

[Kelz]

Thanks for the help!

Thanks you are right. Did some surfin and found out
the second set of wires was for the neutral lamp,
which is not on my car, but was on previous models.
The third set of wires has something to do with a
comp switch for 4th gear (have no idea what that is).
Again thanks for all the help.

BTW I found this info on www.carfiche.com very helpful

and for Johnb210 - there is three sets of wires coming
out of tranny - Hah

Kelz