Identifying transmission switches

[yor5150]

I found the following while searching for a way to identify the 3 switches on my transmission.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3158&highlight=transmission+switches

But I still need help. A picture is posted. I believe the most forward switch is the reverse light. I pulled the transmission out of a donor car and all three switches had the wires broken off of them. I've soldered wires for the forward switch. The mounting bracket you see is the rear bracket.

Any help identifying the other two switches & confirming that the most forward switch is for the reverse light would be appreciated.

[Rockr69]

no pic showing. More info type of tranny and year would help.

[yor5150]

It appears to be an 1980-1983 FS5W71B Type B. I bought a '71 rust bucket with a good engine/5spd transmission/R200 diff but no info as to it's history. I'm going on what I've researched here and at Hybrid Z.

Thanks

[yor5150]

A pic of the switches

[Rockr69]

According to the FSM for an 82 zx, switches in relation to your pics are as follows, 82zx Man Trans.bmp

BTW I got the FSM from carfiche.com. Good Luck!

[sblake01]

I think yours is a 1979 280ZX/810 5speed. With three sensors it's also a California trans. How many exhaust mounting ears does it have? They'd be right below the shifter housing. If it only has one going to the left, it's 80-83, 84 if you count the Maxima. If it has two, it's 79 and down. From you picture 1 is the OD detecting switch, 2 is the top gear detecting switch and 3 is the reverse light switch. The switches other than the reverse switch are part of the emission control system. Non Cal cars had a slightly different system and didn't use the other two (1 & 2). The one Rockr69 pictured is a later trans from a car w/ECCS and hence the fourth sensor which I believe only allowed the car to start in neutral. Not really sure on that one as I've never dealt with the transmissions that have four sensors. One sure way to determine the reverse switch is to connect a volt/ohm meter to the terminals on the switch and put the trans in reverse. If you get continuity, that's the one.

[Rockr69]

Not knowing what year and model the donor car is makes it hard to determine, but sounds like Sblake has nailed to me.

[yor5150]

Thank you very much for the help!

[yor5150]

I think yours is a 1979 280ZX/810 5speed. With three sensors it's also a California trans. How many exhaust mounting ears does it have? They'd be right below the shifter housing. If it only has one going to the left, it's 80-83, 84 if you count the Maxima. If it has two, it's 79 and down. From you picture 1 is the OD detecting switch, 2 is the top gear detecting switch and 3 is the reverse light switch. The switches other than the reverse switch are part of the emission control system. Non Cal cars had a slightly different system and didn't use the other two (1 & 2). The one Rockr69 pictured is a later trans from a car w/ECCS and hence the fourth sensor which I believe only allowed the car to start in neutral. Not really sure on that one as I've never dealt with the transmissions that have four sensors. One sure way to determine the reverse switch is to connect a volt/ohm meter to the terminals on the switch and put the trans in reverse. If you get continuity, that's the one.

Looks like two mounting ears so it must be '79 or earlier. Thanks again.

[sblake01]

I'm getting ready to put my 83 ZX non-California 5 speed into my 810 to have the higher fifth gear and maybe get a little better MPG out of my daily driver. The trans it it now is original and has all three switches and the replacement trans only has the reverse switch. To find out what would happen with the elimination of the other two, I disconnected them. The car actually ran better and got better gas mileage with them disconnected. When in 4th or 5th gear, those switches (1 & 2) send a signal to the vaccum switching valve that advances the timing in an attempt to reduce HC and NOx. My previous reading with them connected w/the AC on most of the time, driving back and forth to work was 21.3mpg. With them disconnected it achieved 23.2 mpg under the same conditions. I alwas wondered why my Z got better mileage than my 810. Now I know. It doesn't have the 'Transmission Controlled Vacuum Advance System'. Thanks, yor5150, for posting this thread and getting me thinking about this.

[yor5150]

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that not having the switches connected do not have a negative affect and from the sound of things, is actually an improvement.