What' this plug for?

[ed_in_pa]

I found this wire dangling down near the vapor canister, it appears to have 1 white and 1 black wire. Inside the boot is 1 female vertical contact, and 1 female horizontal contact, sort of a T configuration. It seems to come from a wiring block just below the master cylinder on the fire wall. I've had this 76 for about a month, it only has 51,000 miles. The thing that seems odd to me is the boot rubber is in great condition and the contacts seem clean. If this was just some accessory I don't have I would think some grime would have built up on it in 28 years. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[vettepilot]

It might be the warning light for your brake system. Check around your master cylinder to see if there is a matching set of prongs sticking out from the front mid-section of the master cylinder. I can't remember if the brake fluid reservoir has a low level light or not, but that is another possibility.


vettepilot

 

[PigPen]

I dunno, but Ive got one on my '76 too!!! Same description. It's not the brake warning light, that's in place. I've always figured it had something to do with the alarm. Anyone else????

 

[Fishman]

OK... if we are guessing...


That wouldn't happen to be the neutral safety switch? I think it snakes up and around that area, and than back down. Can you trace the wire back a bit... where does the other end go to?

 

[ed_in_pa]

That sounds reasonable but I don't see any prongs, I know the master cylinder was replaced in 97 by the previous owner, I wonder if it's possible the replacement didn't have the prongs but the original did?

 

[ed_in_pa]

The alarm is connected so that's ruled out. One wire heads right into the wiring block below the master cylinder and the other heads off across the firewall in a harness so I can't trace it.

 

[ed_in_pa]

Does anyone know exactly where on the master cylinder the prongs would be? Also, what is the neutral safety switch for?

 

[vettepilot]

Hmmmm,
Stumped.... try this, LIGHTY pull the plug just enough to see how far it could reach if it needed to, then holding the plug in your fingers begine to search at the cord's length to find something to plug it into. Sounds primative to be sure, but that might lead to the discovery. The only other things that pop into mind would be: the windshield washer fluid motor or washer low level alert light, oil pressure sending switch, high head pressure or high temp switch for the A/C compressor. From the color of the wires, looks like black and white insulation, it appears to fall into a category of some fluid level warning switch, or simple low amperage motor such as the windshield washers have.

I don't suppose you have a repair manual either huh? :L

vettepilot

 

[ed_in_pa]

I have chiltons, haynes and the assembly manual but I don't see it. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep looking.

 

[76okievette]

Ed, that looks a lot like the windshield washer motor plug, its on the bottom of the washer fluid holder. I will look at my '76' when I get home and if I find anything I will post. Check the washer fluid motor.

 

[bill81vette]

the neutral saftey switch will not allow the vette to be started unless the trans is in park,neutral,or the clutch is depressed on the manual trans.


bill

 

[Robin7TFour]

ED that plug is for the alarm system. it goes next to the fender switch for the alarm. it doesn't connect to the switch,rather next to it. there is a small switch designed to set off the alarm should someone try to pop the lock cylinder out.


robin

 

[76okievette]

Ed its not the washer fluid motor plug and I have one on my car just like it that is not pluged in and does not look like it has been for some time. I will look into the alarm and see. My alarm does not work so that must be why its not been plugged in for awhile, if you find out any more about it let me know.

 

[Fishman]

That wouldn't happen to be the neutral safety switch?

Man... my guess sucked!

 

[Robin7TFour]

Brain don't feel bad it took me about 6 months to finally track-down the answer. i have weird diconnected wires all over. ol' cooter's garage had a filed day with my car in it's previous life.

best to you, be safe Brian

Robin

 

[ed_in_pa]

Thanks for that suggestion Robin, but I don't see any switch next to the cylinder. I'm wondering if the alarm cylinder was replaced at some point. It looks like some wire connectors and non standard connections are down there. There are little screws holding each wire to the cylinder and a yellow wire connector. Maybe thats why its not connected.

 

[Robin7TFour]

Ed the screw connectors are correct for the key switch. there should be a platform(my words) next to the key switch . thats where the switch would be mounted. i know on my car it's gone. i have thought about making a very simple alarm to work off the key switch.if so, i wouldn't need the anti-tampering switch for the cylinder,

Robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

Ed does the yellow connector match the plug you have? maybe i am wrong . it might plug right into the keyswitch..

thought i was wrong once..turned out i was mistaken

 

[76okievette]

Ed, I looked all over my car last night, and while I have the same plug, there is no place to plug it into. So it must be like Robin says, I do have a "platform" right next to the alarm switch but there is nothing mounted on it for that plug to plug into. I also looked in all my repair books and found nothing to explain it. I just took some wire tie's and secured it to the wire bundle, its either for the "alarm switch warning switch" as Robin explained or for some other obtion not installed on my car. Its now in the catageroy of "one more thing to not worry about". PC

 

[ed_in_pa]

PC, That's pretty much what I decided to do with the plug. On a different note, I think you said in a different thread that you had replaced your plugs & wires. I did that along with the cap & rotor yesterday. What a nightmare, it took forever and yes I also routed them around, not through the mounts. Of course it took a lot longer because as I was taking parts off (shields etc...) I was cleaning them up, wire brushing or painting as necessary. Don't want to do that again anytime soon.