This is the switch:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=275%2D692

This is the wire (Rated 300 volts, 18-gauge, stranded, 80 degrees C, 1/64" PVC):

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...Fid=278%2D1220

I cut into the black and white wire on the drop resistor plug (2001 SE Auto), then wrapped/tied one end with the wire I posted above and electrical taped it, and the other end with another piece of wire and electrical taped it, then ran it to my dash, where I connected it to the switch. The switch has three prong-- silver | silver | gold --I connected the wires to the two silver ones. Is that right? When I start the car the switch doesn't light up, and it feels like its going full line pressure (i.e. the drop resistor unplugged, or disconnected). In fact I'm 99.999% sure that the drop resistor is disengaged, cuz it shifts HARD. I also tied the wire to the prongs on the switch and electrical taped it.

If worse comes to worst, I'm more than willing to get rid of the switch and just unplug the drop resistor when I need to, if someone can tell me the correct way to re-connect the wire on the plug that I cut.

HELLLPP!!!!

 

they just dont work

 

On most 3 lug single pole switches you would use the center and one of the outside. With the fact that this is lighted I dunno. You need to get a volt ohm meter or continuity tester.
One org member I recall experimented with different resistors and some went up in smoke. This tells me that their could be significant amps involved here. I like the style of the switch, but it is possible that the contact rating is too wimpy,

 

Post something useful.


Did you look at the back of the package to see which posts do what when you flip the switch? Or did you just wire it up based on looks?

 

Turismo,

You need the switch to be in NC (normally closed) position. It seems like you need to move the wire connected to the leftmost silver to the gold connector.

so it should look
silver|silver/wire1|gold/wire2

This is the wrong type of switch for two reasons. It's a NO (normally open) switch and the neon lamp is in series with the ckt. I strongly recommend you get a normally closed switch. Below are the descriptions links from radio shack.

All I've done is reverse the connections on a NO switch to make it act as a NC switch but the neon lamp in series with the ckt is cause for concern. Get a plain NC switch.

http://support.radioshack.com/suppor...lies/16573.htm
http://support.radioshack.com/suppor...oc34/34464.htm
http://support.radioshack.com/suppor...oc51/51418.pdf

 

WRONG SWITCH! Use a two pole, non-lighted switch when in the on position, the circuit is as normal, but when in the off position, acts as if the resistor is unplugged. Also, because it is a circuit with a resistor, you need to solder the wires and switch in place to minimize any residual amp loss.