• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

What is the wire on top of my tranny?? HELP please!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blk91stang
  • Start date Start date Jun 11, 2005

Blk91stang

Member
Jan 3, 2003
607
0
16
41
North Brunswick, NJ
Jun 11, 2005
#1
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #1
I pulled out my old tranny to install the G-Force. On the top cover, the old one has a connector coming out of it and plugs into my factory harness. The G-Force doesn't even have a hole for the connector let alone a connector coming out of it. The only connections my new trans has is the speedometer and the plug for the backup lights. What does this extra wire coming out of my stock trans do?? Thanks
 
G

GT89Mustang

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
0
0
0
39
Monmouth County, NJ
Jun 11, 2005
#2
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #2
Possibly cruise control if your car has it.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 11, 2005
#3
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #3
Nuetral Safety Sensor.

Car will run without it.
 

Blk91stang

Member
Jan 3, 2003
607
0
16
41
North Brunswick, NJ
Jun 11, 2005
#4
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #4
I was under the impression the neutral saftey switch was under the dash and activated by the clutch pedal being I had to adjust it because my car wouldnt start.

Doesn't cruise control branch off from the speedometer somehow?

Anyone else have any thoughts??
 

Stang89LXCPE

New Member
Jul 8, 2004
88
0
0
Wooster, O-HI-O
Jun 11, 2005
#5
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #5
The pigtail on the top left corner of the case is a neutral switch. The one in the center of the case is for the reverse lights (two prongs). The car will run without the neutral switch hooked up.
 

Killer50stang

New Member
May 11, 2004
632
0
0
Jun 11, 2005
#6
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #6
Blk91stang said:
I pulled out my old tranny to install the G-Force. On the top cover, the old one has a connector coming out of it and plugs into my factory harness. The G-Force doesn't even have a hole for the connector let alone a connector coming out of it. The only connections my new trans has is the speedometer and the plug for the backup lights. What does this extra wire coming out of my stock trans do?? Thanks
Click to expand...

Pictures?
 

Blk91stang

Member
Jan 3, 2003
607
0
16
41
North Brunswick, NJ
Jun 11, 2005
#7
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #7


Where I circled is where the stock tranny had a threaded boss with some sensor and wires/plug hanging out which plugged into my harness. As you can see, this tranny has none of this.

Why would Ford not have a "Neutral Safety Switch" on some transmissions? Haven't noticed anything out of ordinary from it tho.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 11, 2005
#8
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #8
Blk91stang said:


Where I circled is where the stock tranny had a threaded boss with some sensor and wires/plug hanging out which plugged into my harness. As you can see, this tranny has none of this.

Why would Ford not have a "Neutral Safety Switch" on some transmissions? Haven't noticed anything out of ordinary from it tho.
Click to expand...


The NSS on the clutcvh pedal is the main one the car uses to prevent starting without pressing the pedal.

The NSS on the tranny is for the computer only. It senses if the tranny is in nuetral so it can begin spitting out error codes. The car will run without this sensor, but everytime you run the codes you will get "Vehicle not in nuetral, cannot run codes"

The Cruise control runs off the VSS sensor which is attached to the speedo cable. Someone told me the CC looks at the NSS on the tranny as well to sense if the trans is bumped into nuetral and kills the CC. I am unsure about this as well.

But the car will run fine without this sensor.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,265
17,952
224
Massachusetts
Jun 11, 2005
#9
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #9
PS. The T-5 didn't get the NSS sensor until 1985 or so. The cover on the G-force trans is a copy of a casting of an eary t-5 cover...1983 or so.
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 11, 2005
#10
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #10
5L5 nailed it.....
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
46
Mill Creek, WA
stangnet.cardomain.com
Jun 11, 2005
#11
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #11
Mustang5L5 said:
The NSS on the tranny is for the computer only. It senses if the tranny is in nuetral so it can begin spitting out error codes. The car will run without this sensor, but everytime you run the codes you will get "Vehicle not in nuetral, cannot run codes"
Click to expand...

I don't know if this will affect me or not (going from an AOD to T5 -- but I have a T5 wiring harness to use if I need it), but how would you pull codes then? Just step on the clutch, or is something else needed?
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 11, 2005
#12
  • Jun 11, 2005
  • #12
You can pull codes in KOEO (key on, engine off) mode; you can't pull codes in a KOER (key on, engine running) mode unless you jumper the wires on the computer (I think it's pins 46 and 30) as if it were in neutral.
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
46
Mill Creek, WA
stangnet.cardomain.com
Jun 12, 2005
#13
  • Jun 12, 2005
  • #13
I don't think I've ever even tried pulling KOER codes...but good to know in case I ever do.

BTW -- my tranny has that sensor, if (or if I don't) I use the wiring harness any idea if mine would work anyway?
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 12, 2005
#14
  • Jun 12, 2005
  • #14
There are also diagnostic tests you can have the computer run while the engine is running - those aren't available to you without some way of telling the ecu you're in neutral. All the pigtail/switch inside the tranny does is complete a circuit - just like the reverse lights switch. It's probably much easier to simply rig a toggle switch or even a 'spout' like connection (male/female spade connectors) down by the computer. Whenever you want to run KOER tests, just plug the connectors in or flip the toggle completing the circuit. Consult your Stang wiring diagram to see which part (wires) of the ecu harness to put the switch/connectors in.
 

Blk91stang

Member
Jan 3, 2003
607
0
16
41
North Brunswick, NJ
Jun 12, 2005
#15
  • Jun 12, 2005
  • #15
You guys rock
 

89MustangGX

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
46
Mill Creek, WA
stangnet.cardomain.com
Jun 12, 2005
#16
  • Jun 12, 2005
  • #16
Michael Yount said:
There are also diagnostic tests you can have the computer run while the engine is running - those aren't available to you without some way of telling the ecu you're in neutral. All the pigtail/switch inside the tranny does is complete a circuit - just like the reverse lights switch. It's probably much easier to simply rig a toggle switch or even a 'spout' like connection (male/female spade connectors) down by the computer. Whenever you want to run KOER tests, just plug the connectors in or flip the toggle completing the circuit. Consult your Stang wiring diagram to see which part (wires) of the ecu harness to put the switch/connectors in.
Click to expand...

Sounds good -- I suppose probably not worth worrying about too much unless I needed to pull those codes (and even then, it seems it might work), but I'll probably try anyway just to see.

Good info.
 

Blk91stang

Member
Jan 3, 2003
607
0
16
41
North Brunswick, NJ
Jun 13, 2005
#17
  • Jun 13, 2005
  • #17
I read that in 92' Ford did away with the neutral safety switch on top of the transmission. Also my friend with a 93' with a G-Force said he never remebered there being one on his stock one.
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
9,039
6
79
Charlotte, NC
Jun 13, 2005
#18
  • Jun 13, 2005
  • #18
According to Probst' book/schematics for the Ford efi, both the 88-91, as well as the 92-93 have the neutral safety switch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Electrical Brown Connector #31
  • ta66
  • Jul 26, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
92
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 30, 2026
ta66
T
Electrical 91 hatch wiring help needed
  • FastDriver
  • Apr 7, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
171
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 8, 2026
FastDriver
C
Electrical HELP! 1989 5.0 Stick, Voltage Bleed onto Ignition Trigger wire
  • ChickenDeluxe
  • May 14, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
255
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 24, 2026
ChickenDeluxe
C
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
589
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
1
Electrical 1985 mustang gt Led conversion trouble
  • 1985fox
  • Jan 5, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
648
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 15, 2026
1985fox
1
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?