Neutral safety swtich.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 323
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Neutral safety swtich.
My 78 won't start from the key, and i'm tired of having to leave a screwdriver under the hood. We think it's the neutral safety switch, but i'm not sure. I'm not even sure if that's what you call it in an automatic.
In other words, everything works, more or less, but the key doesn't turn the starter.
Where's the best place to get one, if it is that, if i even have one?
Sorry if I sound newb-ish, I'm used to electronics, computers, and fuel injection.
In other words, everything works, more or less, but the key doesn't turn the starter.
Where's the best place to get one, if it is that, if i even have one?
Sorry if I sound newb-ish, I'm used to electronics, computers, and fuel injection.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Welcome the iron age...
You can actually work on these trucks without getting engine check light codes for everything.
Ok, the neutral safety switch is what your thinking about. It is on the drivers side of the transmission. My 79 Bronco did this to me a while back, and the problem is the bolts holding it on came loose, and it lost it's ground. I tightened them up, and it worked just fine.
Ok, if you tighten it, try and start the truck. IF it doesn't work, move the gear shifter around Park, Neutral, all over. IF it starts in a weird possition, then you need to loosen the bolts and adjust it until you get it to start regularly in park.
IF it isn't good at all, www.broncograveyard.com has them at a pretty good price from what I remember when I was thinking about replacing mine.
You can actually work on these trucks without getting engine check light codes for everything.
Ok, the neutral safety switch is what your thinking about. It is on the drivers side of the transmission. My 79 Bronco did this to me a while back, and the problem is the bolts holding it on came loose, and it lost it's ground. I tightened them up, and it worked just fine.
Ok, if you tighten it, try and start the truck. IF it doesn't work, move the gear shifter around Park, Neutral, all over. IF it starts in a weird possition, then you need to loosen the bolts and adjust it until you get it to start regularly in park.
IF it isn't good at all, www.broncograveyard.com has them at a pretty good price from what I remember when I was thinking about replacing mine.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 656
Likes: 1
From: Houston
If it is not that and you don't want to spend alot of money....you can rig it using 12 guage speaker wire. The same way you start it with a screw driver attache a wire to each post...run it threw your fire wall and put a big push button switch on it. Mine has been this way since I bought it and it works great! It makes it so people don't know how to start your truck too. I'v been told on this sight that their is no way 12 gauge wire can do that....but it can...and it does for two years now.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
Likes: 1
From: Joppa, Maryland
Originally Posted by poffutt
If it is not that and you don't want to spend alot of money....you can rig it using 12 guage speaker wire. The same way you start it with a screw driver attache a wire to each post...run it threw your fire wall and put a big push button switch on it. Mine has been this way since I bought it and it works great! It makes it so people don't know how to start your truck too. I'v been told on this sight that their is no way 12 gauge wire can do that....but it can...and it does for two years now.
Last edited by captain p4; Mar 14, 2007 at 07:39 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
I don't believe the neutral safety switch on 78/79 Bronco's get there ground from the mount. There are 2 wires in a connector by the firewall that run down to the NS switch. If you disconnect that and run a jumper wire it will eliminate the NS switch. If the truck starts with the jumper wire the NS switch is either out of adjustment or bad. Remember with that jumper wire it will start in any gear.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Two different neutral switches used 1978/79, depending on transmission type.
D8TZ-7A247-A Neutral Switch~Use with C6 Transmission (Motorcraft SW-1489)
D8TZ-7A247-B Neutral Switch~Use with C4 Transmission (Motorcraft SW-1491)
D8TZ-7A247-A Neutral Switch~Use with C6 Transmission (Motorcraft SW-1489)
D8TZ-7A247-B Neutral Switch~Use with C4 Transmission (Motorcraft SW-1491)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
No 78 79 Bronco came with a C4 tranny.
My neutral saftey switch was loose, and had no ground b/c of that.
I tightened it, and it worked.
My neutral saftey switch was loose, and had no ground b/c of that.
I tightened it, and it worked.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by MBBFord
No 78 79 Bronco came with a C4 tranny.
My neutral safetyyswitch was loose, and had no ground b/c of that.
I tightened it, and it worked.
My neutral safetyyswitch was loose, and had no ground b/c of that.
I tightened it, and it worked.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Mar 15, 2007 at 08:34 AM.
New User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2
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Hi guys,
New here, I just had the same issue with my 96. could not figure out what was up. I thought I had eliminated the nutural switch, but after reading this thread I tried the suggestion here about starter button. Started right up. Thanks a million. I will replace switch asap.
Thanks again
Tooler
New here, I just had the same issue with my 96. could not figure out what was up. I thought I had eliminated the nutural switch, but after reading this thread I tried the suggestion here about starter button. Started right up. Thanks a million. I will replace switch asap.
Thanks again
Tooler