What do these wires DO?

[zam70]

On the steering column, on the gear selector switch.

Orange/Black & Black/White

I know they connect the vehicle speed sensor to the ECM and the circuit closes in park and neutral. WHY? and what happens if they don't (or do)?

I put in a different shifter and the factory neutral safety switch (rod) no longer functions...as a default, am I better off leaving it disconnected or should I hard wire them together? Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks
Scott

 

[salvageV6]

That's the park/neutral safety switch input that goes to the ECM.

Car shouldn't start without a ground through the N or P switch in the gear selector to the orange/blk wire to the ECM.

Blk/wht wire is the ground that goes to that switch.

If you jumper them the car can start in gear I believe.

I'd hook a new one up to the new shifter pronto.

 

[azgn]

with most aftermarket shifters you can easily retain the linkage to the column which will assure you have the rev/in gear/safety features

 

[GNVenom]

Actually those wires are for ECM use only, they don't actually inhibit the start feature of the engine. The wires are connected together when in Park or Neutral, otherwise they're open. The switch they are supposed to be connected to determines which lookup tables are used - in park, there is an idle table in the chip for idle speed, and in gear, there is another table, generally higher RPM, so the engine won't lug during idle. Other housekeeping functions are there, cannister purge, highway mode, etc. The PN switch isn't really that necessary and won't set a code if disconnected, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the wires disconnected, since that's the way the ECM normally sees it while driving the car.
-John Spina
http://www.casperselectronics.com
Click on the Calendar in the upper left hand corner of the website.

 

[zam70]

Thanks guys...I figured it was some minor input to the ECM (car started with it plugged and unplugged)