Ignition switch mystery black wire

[JG1966]

I'm installing a new ignition switch on a 72 RR and I've seen multiple places that if you install it as is, the small black wire on the new switch (that is supposed to illuminate the gear selector) is actually a ground and will cause fuses to blow. Is this true? I have a console shift. How do I wire this to keep my console gear shift light? I've looked at the FSM wiring diagrams and it looks like the wire leaving the compartment side Molex goes a bunch of places, i.e. cigar light, console gear shift light. My head is spinning. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Remove the small black wire from the Molex, tape it back. The wire grounds while cranking, will blow illumination fuse the first time you try to start the car with the lights on if not removed. Details mentioned in this video, at about 5:45.

 

[JG1966]

Remove the small black wire from the Molex, tape it back. The wire grounds while cranking, will blow illumination fuse the first time you try to start the car with the lights on if not removed. Details mentioned in this video, at about 5:45.

Thank you. I watched the video and then I saw it was YOUR video. It was excellent.

 

[JG1966]

Remove the small black wire from the Molex, tape it back. The wire grounds while cranking, will blow illumination fuse the first time you try to start the car with the lights on if not removed. Details mentioned in this video, at about 5:45.

Hey 72, I have something that's confusing me, and it has never made sense. So, I remove the black wire. Then the orange wire on the compartment side molex -- the spot where the mystery black wire would plug into -- how does that get any power now that the black wire is removed? I cut the black wire, installed the ignition switch and now my radio isn't working. If it matters, the old ignition switch I removed had the black wire still there.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Which black wire was cut, there is a larger 12 gauge black wire that is the Accessory power supply, leave that one alone. Then if it’s a later replacement switch, it may have the additional small black in question here. Got pictures? What wire was cut?
The orange wire doesn’t get power from the switch, it provides illumination power to the shift indicator lamp on a column shift application if so equipped. Floor shift, there wouldn’t be a wire opposite the orange wire.

 

[JG1966]

Which black wire was cut, there is a larger 12 gauge black wire that is the Accessory power supply, leave that one alone. Then if it’s a later replacement switch, it may have the additional small black in question here. Got pictures? What wire was cut?
The orange wire doesn’t get power from the switch, it provides illumination power to the shift indicator lamp on a column shift application if so equipped. Floor shift, there wouldn’t be a wire opposite the orange wire.

All good!! False alarm. I checked my voltage to the radio and it was getting 11.6 volts. I guess it needed a little more. I started the car and let the battery charge a little and the radio lights came on and then music and it's good. Thank you for everything. The best news is installing the new ignition switch improved my voltage drop from battery positive to the blue igniton wire at the ballast from 1.05 to .38.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Ok. Sounds like you may have cut the small black wire rather than remove it from the Molex on the switch side. Be sure you insulate the cut end from the Molex, it will have illumination voltage on it if left in the Molex opposite the orange wire, could blow the fuse should it come into contact with the column or dash frame if not insulated.

 

[JG1966]

Yes, I removed the small black wire from the molex on the switch side and then cut off the connector about three inches before the molex and taped it up very good. Thanks again