Painless wiring questions

Hello everyone,

I'm almost finished rewiring my '73 CJ5 with a painless wiring kit. The Jeep has a AMC 401 in it. I have a few questions I need help with before I can finish it up and I was hoping you guys would have the goods (in other words, I don't want to wait until tomorrow to call tech support ).

1 - I've got the two wires that are supposed to connect to the revers switch for my backup lights. I can't seem to find the switch (I feel kinda dumb regarding this).

2 - In the kit there are to wires originating from the fuse panel (#728 & #759) and going to the headlight switch. The are both labeled with "Headlight Switch B+", but I only have one positive terminal on the headlight switch. Is it okay to just wire these two wires together at the switch?

Thanks a bunch!

 

1. the backup lamp switch should be located on the trans top shift tower/cover assy. Look from underneath or remove the floorboard. This is assuming you still have the stock 3 speed manual trans; if not, what trans do you have ?
2. looking at the painless manual, it won't hurt anything, but there is nothing to be gained by doing that.
I believe one is for the dome light function, when you turn the switch all the way to the right (I think). I would use 728, as it is 12 gauge and a heavier wire. You could not cut, but just coil up the other for now until you make your decision. I put that same type of headlight switch (GM) in my flattie to use that feature, dome light, and to control the bright/dim of the new gauges I installed.

 

Use 728

759 is used for an accessory function. If wired exactly as it should it would be used for the clock, I guess illumination of.

 

Thanks a bunch for the replys.

The tranny is a three speed, but I have no idea which model it is. I'm guessing it come with the 401? I removed the boot and the floor plate where the shift lever comes up and couldn't find anything resembling a switch. I then went underneath and couldn't find anything either.

I'm starting to think the PO might have removed the switch entirely. The reverse lights didn't work to begin with, and I didn't find any wires in the old harness leading anywhere near the trans.

As for the headlight section, I went ahead and used wire 728 and terminated the other wire. I shouldn't have any use for the accessory wire. It's a pretty bare bones jeep.

Thanks again for the help. I'm going to start testing circuits tonight. Hopefully I'll get to drive it by the end of the week!

 

The CJ-5 was never offered with a 401 V8, only the 304 V8. A 401 in place of the 304 is very easy though, and that's likely what you have. The 304 came with the Borg-Warner T-15 transmission in 1973.

The switch screws in to the top cover of the transmission and looks like this:

 

Well, thank to your guys's help, I found the reverse switch. It was barely recognizable, covered in grease and grime. Two more questions.

First, does anyone have examples of how the routed wires to the reverse switch? The wires are fairly short, but I'm leery of running them under the shift lever plate.

Second, how do you attach the wires to the switch? I've never ran across any posts like that before.

BTW, I put electricity to it the first time tonight. Most of the stuff was okay, but I still have lots of work to do. R)

Thanks guys!

 

Just slide the female spade connectors over the flat round part of the posts on the sending unit. Mine was routed over the top of the trans case from driver's to passenger side and held by a flat bendable tab on the underside of the tub.:v6: