84 automatic trans no reverse lights (Page 4/6)
olejoedad SEP 13, 09:02 AM

quote
Originally posted by flexxmi:


I ordered yet another NSS switch, thinking the first new one might be defective since my reverse lights aren't coming on when the car is in reverse. But I'm wondering if they jury rigged this the way they did because they couldn't get the car started four years ago with the rebuilt trans because something is wrong with it, so they bypassed the NSS to get me out of the shop.

I really don't want to pull that jumper and then have to put it back the way it was later because my car won't start at all, but it's looking like I don't have any other options. Should I disconnect the battery before I dive into this?



Yes, disconnect the battery.
cartercarbaficionado SEP 13, 09:45 AM

quote
Originally posted by flexxmi:


Thanks for chiming in with that Carter. The plot thickens. From what I gather, your '84 is inoperable but now I'm wondering if your starter will engage in any gear like mine. Do you have back up lights when it's in reverse? Can of worms!


only because it's on its 3rd engine
surprisingly everything works as intended which is weird. looks like they specifically only bypassed the safety switch portion of mine but that isn't causing a crank in every gear situation....then again my harness is a nightmare so who even knows Anymore. maybe it's just a coincidence it doesn't crank in drive
flexxmi SEP 13, 06:44 PM




quote
Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado:

only because it's on its 3rd engine
surprisingly everything works as intended which is weird. looks like they specifically only bypassed the safety switch portion of mine but that isn't causing a crank in every gear situation....then again my harness is a nightmare so who even knows Anymore. maybe it's just a coincidence it doesn't crank in drive



The new NSS arrived and I went and picked it up. Same results as with the last new one I bought. Tinkered around with both and decided I would mark the first new NSS where the backup lights come on (see photos). I left the transmission in reverse and put the switch back on the post and was still not able to get it to line up. Frustrated, I decided to open the NSS thinking that perhaps it had a gear driven mechanism inside that maybe I could adjust. No dice. Single piece of plastic with contacts. I took photos of the inside as well in case anybody was wondering what it looks like inside. (see photos)

I taped the wiring back up and did not remove the jumper - I left it as it was.

Looks like she's headed to a transmission shop to get these issues resolved. There's got to be something not right inside of the trans case that is causing this NSS to not line up properly.
olejoedad SEP 14, 07:55 AM
Did you know that the auto trans gear selector mechanism in the console is also adjustable?

It can be slid forward and backwards.

Do you have an adjustable shift cable?

Have you played with the adjustment at the transmission?

I can guarantee that there is nothing inside the transmission that is preventing the reverse lights from working properly.
flexxmi SEP 14, 12:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:

Did you know that the auto trans gear selector mechanism in the console is also adjustable?

It can be slid forward and backwards.

Do you have an adjustable shift cable?

Have you played with the adjustment at the transmission?

I can guarantee that there is nothing inside the transmission that is preventing the reverse lights from working properly.



Here is the issue in a nutshell: With the transmission set in reverse (mounting bolts, cable and lever removed) when I put the NSS on the transmission and spin it in as far as possible in either direction the backup lights do not come on. It is so far off that with the transmission set in park (mounting bolts, cable and lever removed) when I put the NSS on the transmission I can spin the NSS to one side and the backup lights illuminate. There is not enough directional play to engage the lights when the transmission is set to reverse, and even if there were the mounting holes for the NSS would not line up with the bolt holes.
armos SEP 15, 10:52 PM
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...160323-2-122706.html
RWDPLZ found that some aftermarket Neutral Start Switches don't fit the Fiero correctly.


When I had an 84 I had chronic trouble with this system also. Not sure about the reverse lights but I definitely had trouble with being able to crank the starter.
I don't know if there's actually any difference in the 84s though.
cartercarbaficionado SEP 16, 06:44 AM

quote
Originally posted by flexxmi:


Here is the issue in a nutshell: With the transmission set in reverse (mounting bolts, cable and lever removed) when I put the NSS on the transmission and spin it in as far as possible in either direction the backup lights do not come on. It is so far off that with the transmission set in park (mounting bolts, cable and lever removed) when I put the NSS on the transmission I can spin the NSS to one side and the backup lights illuminate. There is not enough directional play to engage the lights when the transmission is set to reverse, and even if there were the mounting holes for the NSS would not line up with the bolt holes.


dumb question. does having it upside down somehow allow it to turn the lights on with the correct throw?
flexxmi SEP 16, 06:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado:

dumb question. does having it upside down somehow allow it to turn the lights on with the correct throw?



I thought about that and eyeballed it, but it is not possible to install this switch upside down. Nothing lines up.
flexxmi SEP 16, 07:08 AM

quote
Originally posted by armos:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...160323-2-122706.html
RWDPLZ found that some aftermarket Neutral Start Switches don't fit the Fiero correctly.


When I had an 84 I had chronic trouble with this system also. Not sure about the reverse lights but I definitely had trouble with being able to crank the starter.
I don't know if there's actually any difference in the 84s though.



Thanks armos. The link you provided may explain why my harness was cut and spliced, as it looks like the original AC Delco NSS had a minimum of two connectors as opposed to a single connector like the one on mine. Problem is, the single connector on my vehicle will not fit the AC Delco NSS part #D2202A so I would have to find the connectors and swap them before I could even know if that would resolve my issue.

Now I'm wondering what trans I have on my car and if there was a different switch other than the OG part intended for it.

Here is the image for the original AC Delco NSS p/n D2202A. It obviously takes at least two connectors and possibly a third on that post on the right - but I don't have the part in hand and the picture does not show the end shot where the connectors go in.

[This message has been edited by flexxmi (edited 09-16-2024).]

cartercarbaficionado SEP 16, 07:24 AM

quote
Originally posted by flexxmi:


Thanks armos. The link you provided may explain why my harness was cut and spliced, as it looks like the original AC Delco NSS had a minimum of two connectors as opposed to a single connector like the one on mine. Problem is, the single connector on my vehicle will not fit the AC Delco NSS part #D2202A so I would have to find the connectors and swap them before I could even know if that would resolve my issue.

Now I'm wondering what trans I have on my car and if there was a different switch other than the OG part intended for it.

Here is the image for the original AC Delco NSS p/n D2202A. It obviously takes at least two connectors and possibly a third on that post on the right - but I don't have the part in hand and the picture does not show the end shot where the connectors go in.





that's weird. my 84 came stock with the big single connector... I wonder if it's a first few months of production thing since mine did also used to be a manual
speaking of which if you want an 84 4 speed I have one I'm not gonna use