Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

Mystery wires

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Old May 11, 2020 | 08:47 AM
  #1  
AfdahlBo's Avatar
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Mystery wires

Any idea where these go? Found them disconnected on a 86 firebird fuel injected v6.
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Old May 11, 2020 | 02:36 PM
  #2  
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From: Greenfield, IN
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 6.0 LS
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9" Rear w/ 3.70 TruTrac
Re: Mystery wires

Is your car a manual? Looks like a clutch safety switch if you're referring to the purple and yellow wires.
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Old May 11, 2020 | 02:46 PM
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

I am talking about the purple and yellow ones, it's an automatic
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Old May 11, 2020 | 02:53 PM
  #4  
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From: Greenfield, IN
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: 6.0 LS
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9" Rear w/ 3.70 TruTrac
Re: Mystery wires

I’m pretty sure it’s the neutral safety switch on an automatic
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Old May 11, 2020 | 02:58 PM
  #5  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

Do you know where they plug into? Here's a better picture:

Mystery wires

It's not these
There's another set of purple and yellow wires already plugged into the ecm but it's not those
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Old May 11, 2020 | 04:34 PM
  #6  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

This thread might be of use... https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...ring-help.html
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Old May 12, 2020 | 10:57 AM
  #7  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

I believe his wires were on the opposite side of the car, I'm under the dash on the passenger side. Sorry for any confusion
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Old May 12, 2020 | 12:54 PM
  #8  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

Can you trace them to the ECM ?
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Old May 12, 2020 | 12:59 PM
  #9  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

I'm at the unplugged end that's by the ecm right now, I can't see where it plugs into or trace it anywhere

Last edited by AfdahlBo; Dec 27, 2020 at 11:21 AM.
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:00 PM
  #10  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

If you have a multi-meter, can you see if it's the same wires that are plugged into the ECM (look for same color and thickness) ?
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:07 PM
  #11  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

They are the same color and thickness, the multimeter gave me the same voltage on both. The end that's in the ecm is in the yellow box

Purple wire have me 0.4 volts and yellow gave me 0.1
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:27 PM
  #12  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

OK sorry. When using continuity mode, does the purple wire that connects to the yellow box (does it say buffer on it?) have continuity with the purple wire in the unknown plug? Same with the yellow?

If so, sounds like they would be connected to the VSS speed sensor on your transmission. Reference this post https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...arb-350-a.html

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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:34 PM
  #13  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

I am getting continuity, and the yellow box does say buffer on it
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:43 PM
  #14  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

So where is it supposed to be going to/coming from from the buffer box? I tried to pull the unplugged wire end out but it is attached to the rest of the wires I'm assuming from the factory
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:44 PM
  #15  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

OK then the wires would go to a sensor on your transmission. A thread about its operation can be found here... https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...ss-buffer.html Does your speedo work?
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:50 PM
  #16  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

The speedometer works (last I knew) I don't think there's enough length on this wire to get it to the transmission. I didn't know about this wire being loose until I went to test some voltage at the ecm, so it's possible I pulled it out, but it seems hard to believe that it would have unclipped itself
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Old May 12, 2020 | 01:54 PM
  #17  
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From: New Yuck
Car: Non F-body :(
Engine: Pontiac 301
Transmission: TH350
Re: Mystery wires

If the speedometer works then I wouldn't worry about it.
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Old May 12, 2020 | 02:11 PM
  #18  
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Car: 1986 FIREBIRD
Engine: 2.8l V6
Transmission: 4 Speed automatic
Re: Mystery wires

Ok, thank you for your help.

Last edited by AfdahlBo; Dec 27, 2020 at 11:22 AM.
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