Back Up Light Connector Question

Cougar Community Classic Cougar Community Discussion
1

I would like to know if anyone knows why FORD constructed the back up light connector located in the engine bay the way that they did. I repaired the back up light switch on my 1969 four speed and noticed that the connector has an external wire loop that is part of the starting circuit. Why would FORD do this–it makes no sense. I have the electrical system diagram from West Coast Classic Cougars and the connector is shown on page 2-E12 and labeled as connector C. Page 2-E13 shows the loop in about the middle of the page. I will use this loop to add a switch that disables the starting circuit in order to make it harder to steal the car. However, I am sure that is not what FORD had in mind. Any information or thoughts would be appreciated.

2

I believe that loop is where the neutral safety switch goes in a car with automatic transmission. Look at this automatic transmission reverse/neutral safety switch and you will see that there is no loop:
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I think the addition of the loop on the 3/4 speed backup light switch harness would make it so the under dash harness is the same with manual and automatic transmissions.

3

Yes, manual transmission cars do not have the interlock or safety switch. In order to use a common under dash harness, the loop in the backup wiring is necessary.

4

Picture of the looped wire in the backup light harness on a 1968 Cougar or Mustang.

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5

Thanks to both of you. Now that I see the part for the automatic transmission it makes sense. I could not understand why they did that and the electrical diagram is not helpful. The FORD engineers did have a good reason to do what they did.

6

I discovered the importance of the loop when I disconnected my old thrashed reverse lamp harness and then spent 15 minutes trying to figure out why the car wouldn’t start.

7

I had the same thing happen to me. I took the connector off to replace the wires going to the new back up light switch I installed. When I tried to start the car it did not do anything and I could not understand why nothing happened. It took a while to figure out the problem.

8

Dragging up an or topic. My 67 was originally a C4. PO converted to a T5 and I just installed a TKX. I would like for the back up lights to work. Reading through this topic, I think I have an idea where to start. First off… is the pic below the backup/neutral safety switch?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Brian