HELP: $399 Neutral Safety Switch?

[Atom]

Ok I need some help here. Anyone a Neutral Safety Switch expert?
I have been having this problem with my 1996 XJ with a 4.5 inch RE (I mention this only because it may have something to do with my problem). When I start the jeep and dont let it warm up and shut it off again- it wont start. The radio and heater come on but when I turn to the "start" position of the ignition nothing happens. I have found that if I put the trany in neutral then it starts. So I need a new Neutral safety switch right? But I have the AW4 trany and I went to get the part it was $399, yes $399.00! My Chilton book says that its adjustable, but the instructions are not clear!
My questions:
1. Can I adjust the Neutral Safety Switch, or do I need the new one?
2. How the hell do adjust the Neutral Safety Switch?
3. Is the best bet to just get a flamming arrow and call insurance?
Thanks for the help.

[imma honky]

There has been lots of threads on the subject, with great step -by-step instructions.
do a search for NSS on here. The FIRST thing you should try is just cleaning it. If that doesn't solve your problem, then go looking for (i would try used first) a new one. 400 bucks is waaayyyy to steep for me. I don't think insurance will cover it, unless you were in some kind of accident.

[Atom]

Thanks a search gave me some good instructions from a link. But I am bummed the flamming arrow would have been COOL!

[imma honky]

hope all goes well. Corrosion/grime is the culprit many times in these situations. slap on some oxgaurd to keep it from happening again. GL!

[willysnut]

I have your answer. I just cleaned my NSS on my '93 using the info I got from ; http://www.jeepin.com/features/nss/index.asp It took me about an hour and a half. I used a large school eraser to clean the contacts in the switch < an old slot car racers trick for cleaning contacts > just clean out the rubbings from the switch guts before using the dielectric grease. Follow directions it's easy and only cost the price of the grease. Oh yeah the small contacts are easy to misplace. reinstall switch and adjust per the FSM BEFORE driving.

[5-90]

If you are anywhere near San Jose, CA, you can bring it to me and I'll rebuild it for you (and we can work something out...) or you can ship it to me if you like and I'll rebuild it. I've decided to start looking out for them in boneyards whenever I go out and start rebuilding and selling them - since people seem to be losing them left and right these days... I don't have a projected longevity for an OEMR NSS, but it seems to be coming up now.

I have one on the shelf for 87-90XJ (and probably the rest) that I can retest and send out on an exchange basis - and I guarantee it will be less than $400! I've hit my head on that one before, and I'm surprised no-one in the aftermarket has started rebuilding them...

5-90

[Matthew Currie]

I have one on the shelf for 87-90XJ (and probably the rest) ...
5-90

The 87-90 definitely fits past that, because I put the one off an 89 into a 93.

[sbxj]

There is a seller on Ebay who's seems to be re-building and selling. I see them on there about once a month. Do a search.

[RINGKONG]

Mine took a crap 2 weeks ago, I don't feel like laying in snow to remove it so I bypassed it. tranny works fine with out it. the thing is not switched when it is in D posistion anyway (I am trying to say, no pins are connected to each other.. :D) I just tapped into the wires that go to pin b and c and stuck a momentary switch on it. push the switch, turn the key and it starts. no reverse lights yet, but, I may just hook em up to a toggle switch until spring.. :D

[John90XJ]

If you do lose the contacts or springs, remember that Toyota also used the AW-4 type transmission. Though the NSS is different, the contacts are virtually identical. Mine went flying across the shop floor when it got pulled apart for cleaning and that's how we ended up fixing it.

If you know anyone at a transmission shop, try asking for their leftovers. They usually replace everything with the new transmission leaving a perfectly rebuildable switch for the asking.

[DaveD in Canada]

If you do lose the contacts or springs, remember that Toyota also used the AW-4 type transmission. Though the NSS is different, the contacts are virtually identical. Mine went flying across the shop floor when it got pulled apart for cleaning and that's how we ended up fixing it.

If you know anyone at a transmission shop, try asking for their leftovers. They usually replace everything with the new transmission leaving a perfectly rebuildable switch for the asking.

A very wise soul previously suggested taking the NSS apart in a clear plastic bag, to avoid spring-loaded parts disappearing under the bench. A very smart idea!

[geepers]

Would this shut down .. and not allow engine to crank ??? As before Its seems to rest set its self if I go from Park to neutral and back again ..After several min the engine cranks .. After I go from park to neutral to park the battery plays dead .. hummmm
geepers

[gergmick]

:huh: I just replaced my NSS inthe 88' but the price was not that bad but still bad 239$ at advance auto parts! Be carefull when you remove the switch to clean it mine broke before gettin a chance to clean it! I had to wiggle it off the shaft with a screw driver,being very carefull I still ended up with a two peice switch without dissasembling it at all!

[Shanbo44]

I bypassed mine about 6 months ago and have been fine ever since. You will be ok as long as you don't start her up in reverse or something like that. Why pay $400 for a part you really dont need.


shannon

[kevin s]

For all you guys who have bypassed your NSS, do your back-up lights work?

[gergmick]

Kinda wondering the same thing???????????????

[Shanbo44]

No, the mechanic @ Spike's Jeep garage who told me how to do it said that is the one draw back!, but if you got bored or if you just can't live without them, then I guess you could hot wire them with a toggle switch.

shannon

[imma honky]

For all you guys who have bypassed your NSS, do your back-up lights work?
Shoot, mine don't work anyways!

[Joe]

Yeah I would try to clean it first, than buy one off a junked and clean it, and last buy the new one, but most likely cleanning it will work.

Check this web site out.

http://www.jeepin.com/features/nss/index.asp

[Teron]

I broke my first NSS removal...very brittle case on those, it just crumbled.

Second time around, white lithium grease on that post...comes off really easy and in one piece!

Teron

[89xj]

i failed inspection because my back up lights wouldnt work. got lucky, on a 5 speed it is only a back up switch that only cost 30$.

[lunghd]

NSS rebuild article scanned from a magazine:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jeepcherokee1/Downloads/Neutral%20Safety%20Switch.zip

Online rebuild article:

http://www.dirtdevils.org/briantechtippage.htm

[gergmick]

Allright! Check this out!

I replaced the NSS in my 88 wagoneer(xj) a week ago and it was a defective part from the factory! (pissed!) So instead of getting another one I opted to get my 239.00$ back and wire it straight with a toggle for the reverse lights. The problem is that when I started the heep up, it ran for about 5min and then just shut off by itself! It just went dead like I'd turned off the ignition or something! Its raining pretty hard here today so i'm trying to see if anyone who's bypassed their NSS has had this problem and if so what did the problem end up being?(don't feel like getting soaked today) Thanks for any help! :fuse:

[Shanbo44]

No, are you sure you didn't cause anymore damage while you were removing the NSS?

Shannon

[mattb]

I responded to a NSS post a while back and said that after I hot wired my switch the engine after a while would do this strange thing where it would idle fine, until I gave it gas, then it would stall as soon as I let off the gas. It just wouldn't idle. The solution for me was to unplug the battery and reset the computer. Then it would be fine again for a while. When I finnally replaced the switch the problem went away.

I may be the only one who ever had a problem, but my computer sure got confused about something I did.

Matt

[gergmick]

no damage was done when I removed the defective switch. What I did was take the origanal switch and cut the plug end off. Then with the 5 wires, I connected the two black wires (grnd)and capped them together.The remaining wires are (2) yellowish tan color and (2) green w/white stiped wires. One of the yellow wires(y/w stripped) went to the reverse lights,this I found out through deductive wiring. I simply took the reverse lights wire and ran a lead into the cab area to a toggle w/separate grnd to the frame. The reverse lights wwork great and only when the ignition is turned on. The remaining wires(2grn/1yellow) were all capped together to complete the NSS curcuit. The thing started right up after that and ran smooth as silk for about 10min and shut off like I'd turned the ignition off and would not start again! I went to the computer plug on the drivers side of the engine compartment and unpluged the computer with the ignition on and pluged it back in and then cranked the engine,still nothing (no spark)! Really stumpped on this one, any help would be apricated. Thanks!