i know it's pretty common for these connections to get dirty, but i was wondering if dirt in the connections could cause a short?

also, what are the other two wires coming out of there? mine weren't connected and so when i connected them back, i didn't notice anything new, just wondering

 

I have heard of guys having a shorted switch, I don't know exactly how it happens, but I would guess either the wire strands coming out of the switch have become frayed & are shorting to the switch body, or an internal contact has broken & is leaning against the body...

Are you saying you have 4 wires coming out of one switch?

 

I think one of those pairs is the neutral switch.

Your S4 isn't fussy, it just stops the AWS when closed,
but the S5's will not open the aux ports or VDI if that switch is open.

 

Where is the connector in question anyways? My reverse lights don't work, but if I apply coltage to them directly they do light up, so it's gotta be a relay or sensor somewhere. The clutch was replaced right before I bought it, so it could've been disconnected at the tranny maybe

 

All of the different switches' connectors are down there near the tranny...

 

whoa now... so if the 5th gear sensor is not connected, my VDI and aux ports will not function?

 

there's a little (actually quite big) bolt like thing on the driver's side of the transmission, it has 4 wires coming out of it, i was told one was for reverse lights, another is for 5th gear, and those two have something in the connectors, which are just like butt end connectors or whatever but they look dirty, i was wondering if that would cause the meter fuse to blow (since it's connected to that fuse) from what i can tell, the wires aren't broken anywhere or have any exposed areas

also, there were two other wires with a flat male/female connections that were disconnected for i don't know how long, but i connected them back and i didn't notice any difference anywhere, and was wondering if anyone knew what those were for

 

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My bad - the neutral switch is a seperate switch near the 5th/reverse switch.

The S5 neutral switch closes when you're in gear.
The ECU wants that & low manifold vacuum before it works the Aux ports & VDI.