no power to the purple wire on starter

OK, where is this P/N safety switch? Got pictures?

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This is the best I can do, it's crowded up in there. See the white half moon switch on top the column? That's it. The P/N safety switch.
eeba110c621fb70e05a18ee03f6ceb02.jpg



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Sorry, but that isn't the P/N safety switch on our Buicks. That is the backup lights and P/N signal to the ECM switch. Dave, it looks like we were posting at the same time, if you missed it see my post just previous to yours above.

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OK, picture of it with the heavy purple wires going to it? No can do because it isn't there. That switch, as I previously posted, it for the back up lights and P/N signal to the ECM.

From the FSM, see note to right of ignition switch:

View attachment 258363
And, where is the P/N safety switch in the above diagram?

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It's right on your diagram above. It's the box near the top incorrectly labeled ignition switch. But that's the device mounted on top the steering column down under the dash that I photo'd.
 
It's right on your diagram above. It's the box near the top incorrectly labeled ignition switch. But that's the device mounted on top the steering column down under the dash that I photo'd.

Correction, I'm looking at the wrong part. I can't find the wiring diagram for the switch I photo'd.
 
Here's some better pictures of what comes up when I google "87 buick neutral safety switch".

switch.jpg
switch1.jpg
 
The left image you posted showing the switch on the column is mine. I posted that here some time ago. Here are two other pictures I took . This first one is from the passenger side and shows the back up light connector. That is the blue & green wires. Note the open area along with the ORG/BLK and BLK/WHT wires on the lower left (P/N to ECM):

GN_PN-SW_6a.jpg


And the wiring diagram for the back up lights, matches the wire colors:

BackupLights.jpg

Then a left side view of the column switch showing the P/N input to the ECM. That is the ORG/BLK wire. When grounded the ECM sees that as in P/N, open the ECM sees that as 'in drive.'

GN_PN-SW_5a.jpg


The green wire behind it is from the backup light connector. Here it is shown on the ECM wiring, although it states that the BLK/WHT wire is tied to the transmission, it is most likely grounded to the dash someplace:

EcmWiring1.jpg



No purple starter P/N safety interrupt wires anywhere on that column switch. The P/N safety is the mechanical blocker built into the column. Try it, place the shifter in the D position and try to crank the engine. As long as that goofy linkage is adjusted properly the key won't turn far enough to crank the starter.

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I stand corrected. So, it's mistakenly called a P/N safety switch.
 
I stand corrected. So, it's mistakenly called a P/N safety switch.

Yes to mistakenly called a P/N safety switch. I discovered this shortly after I got my car. The reverse lights didn't work and the P/N input to the ECM was flaky. It would flicker between P/N and drive when shifter was in the P/N position (grounded).

Cars this old, the grease in the column switch is all dried out. Pull it, open, clean, grease, check the operation, uh, wait a minute... If this doesn't have the two heavy purple wires on it, where the heck is the P/N safety switch? Looked at the shifter, nothing there.

Drove me nuts until one day I was looking at the cranking wiring. Read the note, and went :banghead:

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P.S. As the reverse lights, there weren't any bulbs in the sockets...
 
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