<VV> Neutral Safety switch

[Mark Corbin]

Actually, in a Corvair, the neutral safety switch performs two functions.
First of course, it keeps the starter from being engaged if the car isn't
in neutral. But its second function is to interrupt the juice to the backup
lights if the car isn't in reverse. Otherwise, the backup lights would be
constantly on. Just jumper it some time if you doubt me.

As far as putting in the clutch when starting a manual trans Corvair, why?
And NO, I don't put in the clutch, because that's a wasted effort. It
always annoyed me when I'd step into my car after my mechanic had parked
it, only to hit the starter and have the car leap forward. Stupid idiot
didn't leave it in neutral and pull the handbrake like he's supposed to.
That's how Corvairs are supposed to be left, in neutral with the handbrake
pulled.. So every time after leaving it with him, I have to check to see if
the car's in neutral, like it's supposed to be. (Note that I live in the
flatlands, Seth.)

Now if you REALLY want to improve modern cars, have it so that manual trans
cars can't be started unless the trans is in neutral. LOL

-Mark

> [Original Message]
> From: <Sethracer at aol.com>
> Subject: <VV> Neutral Safety switch
>
> I always wondered about the usefulness of a neutral safety switch - the  
> actual requirement. Of course, all new cars, sticks or automatics, have  
> something you have to do in order to let the engine crank. Beyond that,
the most  
> obvious is the newer "Audi switch". That is the interlock which requires 
> you  push on the brake pedal to allow the automatic trans to be placed
into  
> gear.  Thank You to the numb-nut Audi drivers! As far as the Corvair-era  
> cars, did the car companies think that automatic transmission drivers
were  
> stupider than manual transmission drivers? Is that the reason for the
neutral  
> safety switch? That era had no "depress-clutch to crank" switch. That
didn't 
>  show up until the 80's or so.  I guess the companies assumed the stick  
> drivers would push in the clutch. Now our newest cars will be saddled
with  
> another electronic big-brother circuit - closes the throttle when the
brake is 
>  fully applied, or something like that. Should we call it the "Toyota 
> switch"?  Thank You to the numb-nut Toyota drivers! 
>  
> Seth  Emerson
>  
> In a message dated 5/13/2010 5:48:17 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
> airvair at earthlink.net writes:
>
> The  cable we're going to use is an adaptation of a heater cable. I don't
> yet  feel certain enough that it would operate a dash-mounted neutral  
> safety
> switch in a positive enough manner to allow the switch to  operate
> precisely, so I am still advising relocating the switch to the  tunnel.
But
> it appears to be good enough to suffice for a gear  indicator.
>