I finished my auto <> t56 swap, and I pinned out the wires on the automatic shift handle, and I sucessfully hooked up the reverse lights and the clutch safety switch. What I can't figure out is what the other 2 wires are for. They are shorted when the car is in park or neutral, but are open when the car is in reverse or any of the forward gears. They are the middle 2 wires of the 6 that were originally on the auto shifter plug.

Anybody remember what they are for?

 

Those are for the hatch release. I left them tied together I think, the hatch only opnes with the clutch in now. I don't think it will even open with the key anymore.

Jim Buckingham

 

Are you sure that's what they are for? If I remember correctly, the hatch release only operates with the key off or in the accessory position, which would make it wired up to the ignition switch...

 

That is what mine were. Mine worked only in park and neutral, the key did not have to be on.

Jim Buckingham

 

yeah that seems right jim

 

For some reason, mine seems to be different. My Dakota Digital box died the other day, and since it is now disconnected, the SES light will come on, if those two wires are not connected together. So, I am guessing that they are used to signal the ECM that the vehicle is not in park or neutral, and that the ECM should be receiving signals from the VSS.
My hatch release works whether or not that pair of wires is connected.