Strange start problem
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Joined: May 2006
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Strange start problem
My f100 has a strange starting problem. I engage the starter and sometimes it doesn't turn at all. I can tell that there is juice - the "red light" is on.
If I try to start again and again nothing happens. Unless, I shift the transmission back to neutral and then to park again and it starts right up.
This may be a separate, but related problem, but I turned the interior light on last night and the battery went dead very fast. I cannot get it to start at all now, even with a jump from another car.
Should I change the battery first?
If I try to start again and again nothing happens. Unless, I shift the transmission back to neutral and then to park again and it starts right up.
This may be a separate, but related problem, but I turned the interior light on last night and the battery went dead very fast. I cannot get it to start at all now, even with a jump from another car.
Should I change the battery first?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 479
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From: Sonoma, CA
Make sure you have a fully charged battery. Also, it could be your NSS is not correctly aligned and not allowing the ignition switch to fire the starter relay. Also what year truck do you have? That'll help us help you.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
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All vehicles (automatic transmission) have a NSS of some sort. I have a C6 automatic on my '75 F250 4WD and it is on top of the steering column, just before the fire wall.
The primary purpose of the NSS is to prevent starting the truck while in gear, thus reducing your chancing of running someone over. Secondary function is to control your backup lights. From your brief description, sounds like the NSS is not cycling properly through its contacts when you shift your column gear selector. Mil1ion has a pretty good post on how to clean up a NSS. Do a search on "+clean +neutral +safety +switch" to bring it up. The battery thing might be an issue though. Take it out of the truck and take it to Autozone/Advance Auto to get the free battery test. Your truck should at least start with a jump if your ignition/NSS/soleniod/starter are all working.
The primary purpose of the NSS is to prevent starting the truck while in gear, thus reducing your chancing of running someone over. Secondary function is to control your backup lights. From your brief description, sounds like the NSS is not cycling properly through its contacts when you shift your column gear selector. Mil1ion has a pretty good post on how to clean up a NSS. Do a search on "+clean +neutral +safety +switch" to bring it up. The battery thing might be an issue though. Take it out of the truck and take it to Autozone/Advance Auto to get the free battery test. Your truck should at least start with a jump if your ignition/NSS/soleniod/starter are all working.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 224
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From: San Jose , ca
The Nss on some Fords (and other makes) did have a problem as they aged, you had to hold the shift lever up & apply some pressure to make the contact for starting, of course the battery need to be in good order 10 + volts to engage the relay and starter properly; with low voltage the relay just clicks(rapidily at times) and leaves you disgruntled at best and stuck also.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
You have a bad neutral safety switch, wiggling the lever or pulling it up when in park is the giveaway. The NSS mounts on the column.
C7TZ-7A247-A .. Neutral Safety Switch (Motorcraft SW-600)
C7TZ-7A247-A .. Neutral Safety Switch (Motorcraft SW-600)
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 224
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From: San Jose , ca
starter problem
Number Dummy you go right for the cure, shoulda done that my self; thanks.
Retired: Tech rep Mercedes-Benz and AMC
66 F250 aaaarrrgghh! a project
67 F250 modifed 352 for towing -sold
80 F100 300 six manual. great truck, sold
90 F250 460, auto, tow rig- sold
Retired: Tech rep Mercedes-Benz and AMC
66 F250 aaaarrrgghh! a project
67 F250 modifed 352 for towing -sold
80 F100 300 six manual. great truck, sold
90 F250 460, auto, tow rig- sold
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Posting Guru
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From: Murray
You can also bypass it like I did..but I dont recomend doing this unless you really need to get somewhere like I had to. With mine...it wasnt the switch that was bad but rather the lever that actuated it that was...darn thing had snapped just below where it makes contact with the movement in the switch and I needed to get down the road so I just spliced each of the two sets of wire togehter till I found the right combo. Like I said I DO NOT reccomend doing this unless you are desperate.
-Chris
-Chris
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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The hole is for a small drill bit to be inserted to align the NSS to its proper position
Loosen adjusting screw/bolt on NSS
Physically put Trans in absolute neutral
Put Gearshift in absolute neutral
slide NSS back and forth while trying to insert drill bit in hole. once drill bit is inserted thru switch tighten the NSS screw/bolt
remove drill bit.
Loosen adjusting screw/bolt on NSS
Physically put Trans in absolute neutral
Put Gearshift in absolute neutral
slide NSS back and forth while trying to insert drill bit in hole. once drill bit is inserted thru switch tighten the NSS screw/bolt
remove drill bit.
Last edited by Mil1ion; Mar 21, 2007 at 01:05 PM.
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From: Murray
Bill,
I wish it were that lever then that would be a simple fix...Im talking the one that is connected to the gear selector....it moves back and forth from the back side as you move through the gears...to replace it I would have needed to remove and strip down the column to even be able to get close!I mentnion it becasue it could be that his has done something similar...in which case it will be a more difficult fix.
-Chris
I wish it were that lever then that would be a simple fix...Im talking the one that is connected to the gear selector....it moves back and forth from the back side as you move through the gears...to replace it I would have needed to remove and strip down the column to even be able to get close!I mentnion it becasue it could be that his has done something similar...in which case it will be a more difficult fix.
-Chris
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by 73f350sc
Bill,
I wish it were that lever then that would be a simple fix...Im talking the one that is connected to the gear selector....it moves back and forth from the back side as you move through the gears...to replace it I would have needed to remove and strip down the column to even be able to get close!I mentnion it becasue it could be that his has done something similar...in which case it will be a more difficult fix.-Chris
I wish it were that lever then that would be a simple fix...Im talking the one that is connected to the gear selector....it moves back and forth from the back side as you move through the gears...to replace it I would have needed to remove and strip down the column to even be able to get close!I mentnion it becasue it could be that his has done something similar...in which case it will be a more difficult fix.-Chris
Last edited by NumberDummy; Mar 21, 2007 at 01:53 PM.
Posting Guru
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From: Murray
Theres a tab coming up from the column right behind the NSS...it moves in sync with the gear slector up on the column...which in turn moves a slider on the NSS to a position where it contacts to make the connection to allow it to start....ie..move the lever to Neutral...it slides the switch over to allow the circut to be completed...and allows it to slide back to the other side when in Park to allow for starting. It isnt pictured above...it would be directly behind the NSS just before the column runs into the firewall.
-Chris
-Chris
Last edited by 73f350sc; Mar 21, 2007 at 02:04 PM.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 783
From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by 73f350sc
Theres a tab coming up from the column right behind the NSS...it moves in sync with the gear slector up on the column...which in turn moves a slider on the NSS to a position where it contacts to make the connection to allow it to start....ie..move the lever to Neutral...it slides the switch over to allow the circut to be completed...and allows it to slide back to the other side when in Park to allow for starting. It isnt pictured above...it would be directly behind the NSS just before the column runs into the firewall.
-Chris
-Chris
Lever looks like this (turn it upright 90 degrees) --C
