Backup Light Switch Pigtail?

[wixthedog]

Hello everyone, you guys are always a wealth of knowledge and hep so I’ve got another one for you.

I’m looking for the pigtail for the trans mounted backup light switch. My plans were to make my own but the spades are not typical, slightly oversized. Wires are ran, circuit is tested, and I don’t want to solder it and add another connector if I can keep from it.

My local parts house is no help and my google-ese is lacking!

[ray_mcavoy]

What size are the terminals on that switch?

If they're not any wider than 1/4", it looks like it would accept Packard/Delphi (now Aptiv) 56-series female terminals in a #2973781 connector. Although given the location, the original was probably a sealed rubber connector.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

What size are the terminals on that switch?

If they're not any wider than 1/4", it looks like it would accept Packard/Delphi (now Aptiv) 56-series female terminals in a #2973781 connector. Although given the location, the original was probably a sealed rubber connector.

I had my kit out as I was making and rerunning the rest of the harness and these are slightly bigger than the traditional 1/4” spades. I’d be happy to go without a sealed type connector, this truck won’t see a hard life anymore.

The connector you reference looks like a “T” connector rather than the “L” it needs but I can’t find a very good picture to confirm.

[ray_mcavoy]

Hmmm ... that seems strange that the terminals are just over 1/4". The next size up from the 56 series are the 59 series terminals that are commonly used on things like headlights but those are 5/16" wide and might be too big. Even in the newer Metri-Pack terminals they have the 630 series (6.3mm, just a whisker under quarter inch) and 800 series (8mm, 5/16").

The switch appears to be a new one. Do you still have the old one for comparison? I'm wondering if the wider terminals are a manufacturing variation with the new switch. In which case you might have to consider carefully modifying them with a file or Dremel tool to accept standard 1/4" connectors.

The #2973781 connector is sort of a cross between a "T" and an "L". Attached is an end view of one. I think this is the correct configuration for your switch but it's hard to tell for sure just going by a picture.

[wixthedog]

Thanks for the valuable input so far.

I do have the old one but the pins were sheared off some time ago, by someone else! I like the file idea, then I can build my own pigtail and be done with it.

[Nick_R_23]

I’d be willing to bet you could snag one of those from the salvage yard. It’s a short little harness assembly that runs up to that plastic wire pouch and then dips down and passes through the firewall. I believe it’s a light green and dark green wires.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by Nick_R_23

I’d be willing to bet you could snag one of those from the salvage yard. It’s a short little harness assembly that runs up to that plastic wire pouch and then dips down and passes through the firewall. I believe it’s a light green and dark green wires.

Unfortunately I don’t have one terribly close by and time is limited. It may come to that but I think I found one on eBay I may take a chance on.

[wixthedog]

I found the old one and it was good enough to get some measurements from. The terminals are definitely larger, almost a 9/32”. I picked up a generic headlight pigtail from the parts store and the terminals appear to fit but the connector spacing/orientation is too far wrong to easily adapt it.

This is getting frustrating! Good thing I don’t need reverse lights.

I went ahead and ordered the “correct” pigtail from the only place I could readily find one...eBay!

[Pontiac1976]

Hello everyone, you guys are always a wealth of knowledge and hep so I’ve got another one for you.
I’m looking for the pigtail for the trans mounted backup light switch. My plans were to make my own but the spades are not typical, slightly oversized. Wires are ran, circuit is tested, and I don’t want to solder it and add another connector if I can keep from it.

My local parts house is no help and my google-ese is lacking!

Question:
Hi did you try any years of trucks/cars that this came in at one of your Scrap yard/Recycling yards, or GM Dear parts counter. Maybe good trans shop.

[Pontiac1976]

Hello everyone, you guys are always a wealth of knowledge and hep so I’ve got another one for you.
I’m looking for the pigtail for the trans mounted backup light switch. My plans were to make my own but the spades are not typical, slightly oversized. Wires are ran, circuit is tested, and I don’t want to solder it and add another connector if I can keep from it.

My local parts house is no help and my google-ese is lacking!

Question:
Hi did you try any years of trucks/cars that this came in at one of your Scrap yard/Recycling yards, or GM Dear parts counter. Maybe good trans shop.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by Pontiac1976

Question:
Hi did you try any years of trucks/cars that this came in at one of your Scrap yard/Recycling yards, or GM Dear parts counter. Maybe good trans shop.

None of the above! There are not any junkyards near me (about 45min drive to the closest) so I don't bother. For the $11 and change I spent on eBay I saved that in fuel and time as long as its the right one.

I tried my local transmission shop for the speedo gear in a SM465 a while back and they just stared at me funny, blankly saying they just order that kind of stuff and not offering to help any further so I left it at that.

[wixthedog]

The $11 pigtail arrived and it sure looks like the right one, by picture anyway. I’m out of town for work so my wife snapped a picture for me. She said she won’t install it...

[Pontiac1976]

That the one off e-bay?? because there is two like the I was sure needed that one Or I would have gave you a link week ago.
Sorry if that the one.

[hatzie]

From the GM wiring diagrams.
The transmission switch end is Delphi Packard Aptive 2984092. It accepts Female Packard 56 terminals. This shell is obsolete.
The under dash end is Delphi Packard Aptive 2973431. It accepts Male Packard 56 terminals.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by hatzie

From the GM wiring diagrams.
The transmission switch end is Delphi Packard Aptive 2984092. It accepts Female Packard 56 terminals. This shell is obsolete.
The under dash end is Delphi Packard Aptive 2973431. It accepts Male Packard 56 terminals.

Good info, thanks. If this plug doesn’t work out that’ll help point me in another direction for sure.

[kipps]

Another idea to keep in mind, is swapping out the entire switch. My '87 sm465 had a common two-pin weatherpack connector on that switch instead of the two blade terminals. RockAuto sells that weatherpack switch for about $10.

I can't guarantee the newer style switch would fit your older transmission, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't.

[wixthedog]

Originally Posted by kipps

Another idea to keep in mind, is swapping out the entire switch. My '87 sm465 had a common two-pin weatherpack connector on that switch instead of the two blade terminals. RockAuto sells that weatherpack switch for about $10.

I can't guarantee the newer style switch would fit your older transmission, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't.

Excellent idea! Easy to enough to compare the two at the parts store and if they fit the pigtail is easy to find as well. I like where this is going...

[hatzie]

Weatherpak components used to be available at NAPA. I haven't asked there in over a decade so I can't guarantee they still sell them.
Delphi Weatherpaks are actually reasonably weathertight... vs the un-sealed Packard 56.
The 2 position 12015792 Tower half, Female terminals, and wire seals are easy to find.

Mouser Electronics stocks most Delphi (Aptive now) electrical connector parts and Delphi tools.

There's an outfit called The Electrical Depot that sells a lot of automotive connectors in small job quantities.
They stock some Delphi terminal extractor and crimp tooling at a reasonable price as well.
If you don't have the skill set or the tooling or either... and don't feel like buying the tools and developing the skill set... they sell some repair pigtails.

[wixthedog]

My intent is never to restore to factory as an ultimate requirement, only if its easy enough to do so.

I was thinking last night about a O2 sensor and how that could work for me if I find a generic 2-pin weatherproof connector. I can solder on the pins and heat shrink a short pigtail to End 1 of the generic connector and go from there. That would solve my requirement of having to remove or service the transmission or switch later on.

This all assuming that the pigtail I received from eBay does not fit but I am still 4 weeks from knowing that...

The Electric Depot is a great source, I've never used them. I typically use RS and Allied for electrical components at work.