WTH is a "5TH Gear Switch"?

Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a friend
said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I found two
switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good. The other
switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured it my be
switched when the car is in 5th gear.

I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It didn't
say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method for
testing it.

According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet pertaining
to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the emissions.

Any ideas?

Hachiroku ãƒ�ãƒ�ãƒ*ク wrote:
> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a friend
> said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I found two
> switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good. The other
> switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured it my be
> switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>
> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It didn't
> say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method for
> testing it.
>
> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet pertaining
> to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the emissions.
>
> Any ideas?

Probably lets the instrument panel know when the car is in the highest
gear so that that infernal upshift light isn't always blinking at you.
At least that's what it was for on VWs.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

"OD" Overdrive light maybe ?



"Hachiroku ????" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09...
> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a friend
> said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I found two
> switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good. The other
> switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured it my be
> switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>
> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It didn't
> say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method for
> testing it.
>
> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet pertaining
> to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the emissions.
>
> Any ideas?

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:39:39 +0000, Jack McGann wrote:

> "OD" Overdrive light maybe ?


Perhaps on an AT, but these were on Manual transmissions.

I still haven't really found anything definitive on this!



>
>
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09...
>> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a
>> friend said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I
>> found two switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good.
>> The other switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured
>> it my be switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>>
>> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
>> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
>> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It
>> didn't say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method
>> for testing it.
>>
>> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet
>> pertaining to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the
>> emissions.
>>
>> Any ideas?

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:40:06 GMT, Hachiroku ???? <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:39:39 +0000, Jack McGann wrote:
>
>> "OD" Overdrive light maybe ?
>
>
>Perhaps on an AT, but these were on Manual transmissions.
>
>I still haven't really found anything definitive on this!
>
Why not disconnect the switch and see what happens (or doesn't happen)
when you shift to 5th gear? Odds are that you won't blow the engine
or transmission.

>
>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Hachiroku ????" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09...
>>> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a
>>> friend said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I
>>> found two switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good.
>>> The other switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured
>>> it my be switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>>>
>>> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
>>> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
>>> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It
>>> didn't say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method
>>> for testing it.
>>>
>>> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet
>>> pertaining to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the
>>> emissions.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?

Hachiroku ãƒ�ãƒ�ãƒ*ク wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:39:39 +0000, Jack McGann wrote:
>
>> "OD" Overdrive light maybe ?
>
>
> Perhaps on an AT, but these were on Manual transmissions.
>
> I still haven't really found anything definitive on this!
>
>

Several of my manual trannies have had an OD light when so equipped.
Volvo for sure and I don't remember on my Mazda.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com

In article <Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09>, =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= wrote:
> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a friend
> said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I found two
> switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good. The other
> switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured it my be
> switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>
> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It didn't
> say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method for
> testing it.
>
> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet pertaining
> to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the emissions.
>
> Any ideas?

Does it have an 'upshift' light? If so it might be there to say 'in 5th
gear, can't upshift any more'. I check OEM mazda service manuals and
wiring diagrams to get a better clue later.

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:39:44 -0600, Brent P wrote:

> In article <Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09>,
> =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= wrote:
>> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a
>> friend said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I
>> found two switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good.
>> The other switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured
>> it my be switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>>
>> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
>> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
>> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It
>> didn't say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method
>> for testing it.
>>
>> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet
>> pertaining to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the
>> emissions.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>
> Does it have an 'upshift' light? If so it might be there to say 'in 5th
> gear, can't upshift any more'. I check OEM mazda service manuals and
> wiring diagrams to get a better clue later.


I think I'll have to check the dealer. Nope, no Upshift light (THANK
GOD!!! I dismantled the dah on a bran new Jetta in 1985 because of those
stupid things!)

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:21:50 +0000, Retired VIP wrote:

> On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:40:06 GMT, Hachiroku ???? <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:39:39 +0000, Jack McGann wrote:
>>
>>> "OD" Overdrive light maybe ?
>>
>>
>>Perhaps on an AT, but these were on Manual transmissions.
>>
>>I still haven't really found anything definitive on this!
>>
> Why not disconnect the switch and see what happens (or doesn't happen)
> when you shift to 5th gear? Odds are that you won't blow the engine or
> transmission.


It was disconnected! I reconnected it.

I did notice improved throttle response in 5th gear on the highway.
I'll keep an eye on the fuel economy...




>
>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Hachiroku ????" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09...
>>>> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a
>>>> friend said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I
>>>> found two switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were
>>>> good. The other switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I
>>>> figured it my be switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>>>>
>>>> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the
>>>> reverse switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th
>>>> Gear Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models.
>>>> It didn't say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a
>>>> method for testing it.
>>>>
>>>> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet
>>>> pertaining to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the
>>>> emissions.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas?

In article <svLwj.260$o23.254@trndny09>, =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:39:44 -0600, Brent P wrote:
>
>> In article <Sr3vj.11226$wG2.5784@trndny09>,
>> =?iso-2022-jp?q?Hachiroku_=1B$B%O%A%m%=2F=1B=28B?= wrote:
>>> Had this happen on my Nissan, and now on the Mazda. On the 240SX, a
>>> friend said I was driving down the road with my reverse lights on. I
>>> found two switches on the tranny, swapped them and the lights were good.
>>> The other switch was directly opposite the reverse switch, so I figured
>>> it my be switched when the car is in 5th gear.
>>>
>>> I noticed some broken wires under the Mazda, again opposite the reverse
>>> switch, and took a look at my Haynes and saw an entry for "5th Gear
>>> Switch". It is in the addendum that covers '88-92 626 FI models. It
>>> didn't say what it did, it just showed the connection and gave a method
>>> for testing it.
>>>
>>> According to about the only thing I could find on the Internet
>>> pertaining to a Toyota P/U 5th gear switch, it seems it cuts out the
>>> emissions.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Does it have an 'upshift' light? If so it might be there to say 'in 5th
>> gear, can't upshift any more'. I check OEM mazda service manuals and
>> wiring diagrams to get a better clue later.
>
>
> I think I'll have to check the dealer. Nope, no Upshift light (THANK
> GOD!!! I dismantled the dah on a bran new Jetta in 1985 because of those
> stupid things!)

I am going through the 1989 mazda MX6/626 OEM shop manual. I cannot find
anything called a '5th gear switch'. There is however an entry for a
'speed switch 113mph (180kph)'. not much other info on it than showing it
as a switch on wiring diagrams.