Neutral Safety switch
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Neutral Safety switch
Hello
I have a question/problem. My late husband left me an 88 Ford F150 Shortbed Supercab truck. It is an 8 cylinder 302(I think)
Automatic with O/D.
I had a problem with the ignition switch. Had it replaced in another state. It worked very well for a few months. Then it would not start unless I moved the wheel up/down a few times. I called a local mechanic who told me the problem was "a neutral safety switch". He charged me $136.72 plus tow charge.
The truck wouldn't start the very next day!!
Also the truck started making a strange noise immediately after the safety switch was installed. It sounded like a whine. Sort of like when the power steering fluid is low. No fluids were low. The local mechanic who had installed the safety switch said the noise was nothing to worry about to go ahead and drive it, until he could find a new/used steering column. I was skeptical so drove very little. Then yesterday the truck acted like it was out of gas. Sputter pop sputter pop... dog down almost quit.
I called another repair shop. This fellow came to the house, started the truck and deduced it had a "bad fuel pump"
$170 later the truck is running and the "whine" is gone. But I reckon it still needs a new column because the ignition switch works but is a bit cranky.
Question: WHAT is a "neutral safety switch" where does it go and what does it do? I did ask for the broken part and was told it was not available.
Thanks in advance for any advice ya'll might have for this ole (non mechanical) wider woman.
BJstone
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Joined: Apr 2003
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I'll try to help where I can.
Neutral Saftey Switch location:
Driver side of Transmission. I belive it would be the furthest forward electrical connection on the tranmission.
Whine/ (not comming from childeren or adolecent males) fuel pump
the fuel pump will tend to whine as it nears the end of it's life. If it sputers/ stops add more gas to the gas tank (don't let it drop below 1/4 of a tank. this keeps the pump immersed in fuel, which in turn keeps the pump from over-heating. the git-yer-self a new fuel pump before it compleatly dies.
Hope this helps (this time or next)
-Scott
Neutral Saftey Switch location:
Driver side of Transmission. I belive it would be the furthest forward electrical connection on the tranmission.
Whine/ (not comming from childeren or adolecent males) fuel pump
the fuel pump will tend to whine as it nears the end of it's life. If it sputers/ stops add more gas to the gas tank (don't let it drop below 1/4 of a tank. this keeps the pump immersed in fuel, which in turn keeps the pump from over-heating. the git-yer-self a new fuel pump before it compleatly dies.
Hope this helps (this time or next)
-Scott
