While working on my transmission I broke the wires out of one of the switches. Pretty sure it's the third gear switch. Should I just delete it? I have no rat's nest or emissions stuff.
Thanks

 

1980 trans can have either two or three switches depending on if it was Fed or Cali build

Both have Top-Gear Switch and Reverse Gear switch.
Cali 5-speeds also had 4th-gear switch in addition.

Don't think any had a "3rd gear switch."

4th & Top switches are part of emissions systems; reverse switch operates your backup tail lights.

 

OK, so there are 2 styles of switches on mine. One has two metal prongs sticking out of it. The other two are similar and have wires coming out into connectors. Those have a ball that gets pushed in and out when the gear selector is moved into certain gears so I assume that those 2 are gear switches for emissions and the one with the metal prongs is the reverse switch.
See pics please.
Thanks

 

The one closest to the switch with the prongs exposed that is missing the wires is your reverse switch. The one closest to the engine is the 5th gear switch. The two prong switch does the same thing as the 5th gear switch if I remember correctly. You can switch the 5th gear switch with the reverse switch their identical except for wire color or you can solder new wires on it .

 

My car is a fed and it has the 4th and 5th gear switch plus reverse as well. So I don't think the
switches differ for Cali models. I use them in series to turn off my electric fans when I'm cruising.

 

OK, thanks. I'll try to solder the wires on first. If not I'll switch them around.

 

If you have a solder sucker once you warm up the old solder and get it removed you will see the slot that the wire goes into. Real simple .

 

Got it soldered today. Thanks

 

My mistake; I should have checked my notes:

1980 Fed and Cali man 5-spd trans had Top (4th) Gear, OD, and reverse switches
1980 Canadian cars did not use either Top or OD for emissions; don't know if they were tapped and plugged or just not drilled; going by the wiring diagram
1980 Japanese transmissions (one of which is currently mounted in my car; long story) had only the overdrive and reverse switches, no Top switch. Case is only drilled for two switches, though there is an undrilled boss for the third cast into the case.

1979 Cali 5-spd trans had both switches wired; Fed (and Can) did not use them.

In all cases the Top and OD switches are just wired in series, and normally closed; I'd assume the 4-speed trans only had one switch for Top gear.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

No problem and great detail on the trannys.

 

Now I'm totally confused... haha
Thanks