Red Dawn

Howdy all new here just bought a 68 442. Having some electrical starting problems and I need to get to the back side of the ign switch. the car is an AC car also and I wondered if any one could get me started in the right direction on dash removel or just to get to the back side of the switch with out breaking the dash? Thanks Doug

Octania

Disco battery
Insert key
turn to ACC
insert paper clip or similar in hole next to key
turn MORE ccw past ACC
key/cylinder will pop out

Using special tool, unscrew switch bezel
twist switch back n forth to assist.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-Olds-cutl...0b3453&vxp=mtr

What, no special tool on hand?
Use your FINGERS on the plastic ring then - normal tools will mar the ring.
Fabricate a special tool that will exactly fit into two opposing slots in the ring? A tab would do. Sheetmetal rectangle.
Urge the ring CCW whilst twisting the switch body slightly back n forth backside.

This usually works.
Unscrew the plastic ring
bring the switch down where you can work on it.
uhg AC- may have to remove quite a bit of ducting
the fabric duct will fall apart. Don't touch if it possible./

Using paperclips per chassis service manual procedure to hold the 3 retainer fingers in the released position, pry the switch off the connector. Or vice versa.

Voila.

oldcutlass

Welcome to the site. Maybe we can help without the removal of the switch if you give us an accurate and complete description of your electrical problem. Post a proper intro with a picture of your car in the newbie section when you get a chance.

Red Dawn

Well I got the switch out. Had no signal power to starter from switch wanted to test. I just didn't know how the dash came apart. The car has some ugly wiring under the dash. I need to find a wiring dia. to clean some of it up. any suggestions? I will post pics later. Thanks Doug

oldcutlass

Here is a diagram for a Chevelle, it's close. Check your neutral safety switch that's where the purple wire to your starter comes from.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpress...6GTZEEiPkXU%3D

joe_padavano

Welcome. If you are going to do any work on this car at all, get these manuals. Pay the money and buy paper originals on ebay. The digital versions are all scans of a paper original and resolution will be lost, especially on the small print in wiring diagrams. You can find them for around $15 each if you look.

Red Dawn

Its a 4 speed car do they have a neutral safety on 68`s? The purple wire were not pluged into anything just jumped. that was the problem. I have no reverse light either.

joe_padavano

Is it a factory manual trans car, or converted? Manual trans cars do not use a neutral safety switch, they use a clutch safety switch on the clutch pedal and a separate backup light switch mounted on the trans and actuated directly from the reverse gear arm on the trans. For that matter, I don't know that 68s used the clutch safety switch, anyway.

Red Dawn

OK I just found the green wires and jumped them and back up lights came on. from pics I looked up I am missing the neutral safety switch but on a 4 speed car how does it know its in reverse ?

67442nut

Unless it's missing, there should be a reverse light switch mounted on
two of the bolts that hold the side plate on the transmission.
There should be a piece of linkage connecting the switch
to the reverse shift lever on the transmission.
Those green wires should be connected to the reverse light switch.

z11375ss

Damn, this site is awesome.

oldcutlass

So, did you get it sorted out? I should have asked if your car was an auto or 4spd, sorry.

Octania

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201036335180...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

You can't just put it in Park then
The purple wires is a good start.

Can you ck for voltage at the underdash purple wires when in START mode?

removing the ign sw was not necessary then eh?

next ck the purple wires under the hood on the way to the starter.

then at the starter

then the starter grounding

then the starter / solenoid itself

joe_padavano

Well, go back and re-read post #8, above. Then look for one of these on the transmission itself.

100_0765.jpg

67442nut

Joe, excellent shot of the back-up light switch.

Yellowstatue

68's do not have a clutch safety switch.

joe_padavano

Yup. I just confirmed that in my 68 CSM. That was back when people were assumed to have enough common sense to step on the clutch pedal when starting.

67442nut

Anyone know when the first year was?

Red Dawn

Nice pic of the switch. Mine does not have one. Where do the wires go to? Mine are under the dash by the steering column . I am wondering if it was converted at some point due to the wires there. I ordered the books so I am hoping to figure the wiring out. Just wanted to say thanks guys for all the help so far.

allyolds68

69 had the reverse lock out linkage, I don't know if they had the switch as well


On a 68, factory four (& three) speed floor shift, the underdash harness connector which normally plugs into the steering column reverse and neutral safety switch has a jumper in it to bypass the neutral safety (edit, this is only partially correct, see my next post). If I remember correctly it's a U-shaped clip. The reverse light harness plugs into the other side (or adjacent plug, I think there may be two separate ones) of the plug. Unfortunately I'm going from memory and my car is stored five miles away and I won't see it for at least another two weeks. I know I've seen the jumper detailed somewhere but can't find it now. (I thought it was in the Assembly Manual's Section 7 but I can't find it).

allyolds68

So I found the jumper wire (lower left) but it's only with 35U21 (Rallye Pac). I don't remember why this is as it would seem either Rallye Pac or non-Rallye Pac SMT cars would require it. All I can figure out is for some reason non Rallye Pac SMT dash wiring harnesses would have the neutral start internally jumped.


edit: I'll bet they did it so they only had to make one Rallye Pac dash harness. A non Rallye Pac SMT car would be internally jumped and have the single reverse light connector for the trans switch harness. As my car was definitely an original SMT, it either had the dash harness changed/modified at some point or was originally Rallye Pac equipped because it had the jumper installed. When I got the car the gauge wires were arranged for an idiot light gauge pod but that could have been easily changed.

allyolds68

I've got the 68 Wiring diagram scanned in high rez. If you'd like it give me you're email address and I'll send it to you in jpg and pdf. If you're old like me you can't read the diagram in the Service Manual without a magnifying glass. The electronic versions of the Service Manual that are available typically do not have enough resolution to read the wiring diagram.

joe_padavano

I don't know about 69s, but my 70 has a clutch safety switch (and the backdrive linkage, which also operates the column-mounted backup light switch).

Red Dawn

Azozbirns@msn.com in my email and yes would love a copy. thanks again guys huge help!