Reverse Switch - Lost all wires but one (however I know switch works).

[ktm]

I have located the harness and I know the appropriate wires (red and red/black) to connect to the switch. My question is what wires on the swtich do each of the harness wires connect to?

The reverse switch has one remaining wire with a bullet connector. Does it connect to the red or the red/black wire?

Thanks.

[EScanlon]

You're missing the wire to connect to the Red wire. Since it's a switch, the wire you have goes to either the Red or the Red/Black depending on which one has the corresponding bullet connector (male / female) but you HAVE to have the other wire for it to do it's job.

The switch closes the circuit between the Red AND the Red/Black to light the Reverse Lamps.

Since I don't recall the 72's as having a Neutral Interlock, I would presume that your switch has lost one wire. Either replace the switch or repair it and add the wire it needs.

Hope this helps

Enrique

[ktm]

Enrique, I understand that I need a second wire on my switch, but I need to know which wire from the harness (red or red/black) connects to the remaining wire with the male bullet plug on the switch.

Secondly, my red and red/black wires in the harness are missing their connections. If one of them had a connection, I would be able to determine what wire connects where.

You are correct in your recollection, 72's do not have a Neutral Interlock.

Thank you for the help.

[Curtis240Z]

Red because that wire should have 12V on it when the ignition is in the ON position and thus it would have a female bullet connector to keep it from accidently shorting to ground.

[ktm]

Curtis240z, thank you!

A quick question for you, is that the typical protocol for determining male/female electrical connections? How would a male connector (where it should be female) short to ground?

Again, thank you.

[Curtis240Z]

Yes that is the typical protocol. A male connector when disconnected has it's metal conductor exposed thus could easily touch a metal surface and ground out.

[Arne]

You know, if the switch on a '72 is the same as on my early '71, both connectors may be the same. Since the switch simply completes the circuit, it doesn't matter which wire is connected to which. When I did the transmission swap on my car I recall this being the case, both pigtails on the switch were black and both had male bullets, IIRC.

[ktm]

Thanks Arne.

[mlc240z]

curtis,

the minute i read your post, i said "of course, that makes sense".

great tip/observation!!