hey whats this??

[jaythejug]

Hey guys!! im currently poking around getting ready to change out the gauge cluster and i saw this. It looks like some kind of switch? maybe brake? it has a tab with a spring that slides over and maybe hits a contact? it does have 2 wires connected on the back. im thinking its some kind of brake switch but nothing is connected to the brake pedal. Before i parked it for the winter my brake lights didnt work with the pedal. any guess's? Thanks!!

[slickstysix]

I'm no expert, but it looks like a neutral safety switch for an automatic with on the column shifter.

[jaythejug]

it is an automatic, but i still dont see how it works. theres nothing that i can tell that comes in contact with the arm. and please forgive me?! this is my first truck and im still trying to figure everything out.

[HotRod66]

Yea that is a neutral safety switch!! Same thing on my
1971 F100! Looks like your missing a part on the Column! There is a little arm that sticks out of the column that moves that peg on the neutral safety when your go into park and drive R N! Mine on the 71 has been bad for years! So I just took a wire so it would stay in one place so I can start my truck in ANY GEAR! Just got to watch the kidos if ya have any!

[William-in-St George]

Neutral safety switch. Should have 4 wires one set for no start in gear and the other for a backup light. There should be a small lever clamped to the shift tube that actuates the switch. If your truck is standard transmission you can remove and toss this. If you drive an automatic you may have a neutral safety switch on the transmission. If your truck starts in gear replace this switch, install the missing actuating lever and re wire the truck so this safety feature works like it should. Stop light switch is likley hydraulic and mounted near the master cylinder. Many here change these hydraulic switches out for a mechanical switch. Not hard. Do a search for stoplight switch and you will find the information you need.

[6166 Junkyard Dog]

It's what you call a neutral switch pointer, snaps in on shift tube and is spring steel

[cwindsor]

Whatever you do don't flip that switch... It makes all the j-nuts on the truck rust up and break off when you try to remove them!