Neutral Safety Switch ???
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New User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Fort Worth, Texas
Neutral Safety Switch ???
What are the symptoms of a bad Neutral Safety Switch? I turn the key and get nothing at all. Battery, cables, relay, solenoid, starter are all known to be good. Could it be the NSS?? Or maybe one of the many fusable links in the ignition system?
Any thoughts or opinions will be most appreciated.
Thanks . . .
1981 F-150 4x4
Any thoughts or opinions will be most appreciated.
Thanks . . .
1981 F-150 4x4
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
If you want to bypass it temporarily, find the switch on the passenger side of the tranny, or on the clutch pedal, and take the plug loose. There should be two red/blue wires in the plug going into the harness. If you jump these two wires together, then that will complete the circuit all the time and bypass the switch.
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Joined: May 2007
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I am personnally going through this right now -- feel free to check out my threads. There is a plug that goes to the neutral safety switch. When you unplug it there are two little connectors that can be jumped. When I thought my starting problem was with the NSS I kept a small nail nearby to jump the connection if I had trouble.
My trouble turned out to be elsewhere...I'm thinking (for now) the ignition switch. In your case, I wouldn't rule out the starter solenoid either.
Franklin as well as others have been incredibly helpful.
Good luck vesu....
My trouble turned out to be elsewhere...I'm thinking (for now) the ignition switch. In your case, I wouldn't rule out the starter solenoid either.
Franklin as well as others have been incredibly helpful.
Good luck vesu....
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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Originally Posted by Sycostang67
If it was the NSS your engine would crank, but not fire. If you get absolutely nothing when you turn the key, something else is wrong.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
All the neutral safety switch does is interrupt the current from the ignition switch to the solenoid that sends current to the starter. You will find the same red/blue wire on the starter solenoid.
So if you have a NSS problem, you will get the radio, blower and all that stuff in the run position, but nothing will happen when you turn the key to start. There are several other things that will make it not crank, but if it's intermittent, bypassing something is sometimes the best way to figure out the problem.
So if you have a NSS problem, you will get the radio, blower and all that stuff in the run position, but nothing will happen when you turn the key to start. There are several other things that will make it not crank, but if it's intermittent, bypassing something is sometimes the best way to figure out the problem.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
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jump the starter solenoid
that way you eliminate that. check wire tightness too.
you can pull your starter and test it externally with 12 volts easy enough as well.
my 1 1/2 cents
as a rookie
that way you eliminate that. check wire tightness too.
you can pull your starter and test it externally with 12 volts easy enough as well.
my 1 1/2 cents
as a rookie
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,491
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From: Kuna ID
D'oh, you guys are right. I had a brain fart. I had the right info in my head, I just put it together wrong. 
It's time for bed now.
It's time for bed now.
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