Neutral saftey switch snafu
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 958
From: Santa Monica, Calif.
Thx!
It's kind of a theft deterrent since Debbie and the Ford NSS issue are both older than most car thieves. It has already fooled a valet and a mechanic who both couldn't get the car started, lol.
I would just leave it this way since I haven't locked my car in 17 years, but it's a pain having to use both hands to start the car whenever I'm on a hill.
True NSS story. This happened in 2001:
I used to have a '90 5.0 vert with auto-start in the remote. I don't live where it's 20° below, so it was a novelty. The only problem was that the alarm dude who installed the security package never passed the wiring through the NSS.
No shít: One day, I was in such a hurry to get to our seats, I parked at Dodger Stadium but never put the car in park. After the game, my wife and I were one of the last people to leave. When we wer about 50 yards form the car, which was now the only car in that part of the lot, I started the motor with the remote and yes, indeed, the car took off, doing donuts around the parking lot.
Thankfully, the window was open (I always leave my windows open) and I raced around with the car until I could dive in head-first. It took a few seconds (donuts) before I could grab the brake pedal with my left hand and stop the car.
When I got out, there were 4 people at the other end of the lot 300 yards away, just standing there, completely motionless in disbelief. It took several minutes of running around with the car and they were watching the whole time, apparently alarmed by my wife's screaming and the sight of a Mustang driving around with two legs sticking out the window.
I was going to bring the car back to the Alarm dude, but my wife hit a Dentist in a 650 Mercedes head on and totalled the car soon after that. We bought an SUV, and never got remote start installed in any other car again.
As hysterical as it is when I tell people this story, it was scary thinking that if we left the game earlier, people could have been killed. We weren't laughing when we drove home that day.
Everytime I see the words, Neutral Safety Switch, I see my red vert driving in circles at the ballpark. I always will.
CP
It's kind of a theft deterrent since Debbie and the Ford NSS issue are both older than most car thieves. It has already fooled a valet and a mechanic who both couldn't get the car started, lol.
I would just leave it this way since I haven't locked my car in 17 years, but it's a pain having to use both hands to start the car whenever I'm on a hill.
True NSS story. This happened in 2001:
I used to have a '90 5.0 vert with auto-start in the remote. I don't live where it's 20° below, so it was a novelty. The only problem was that the alarm dude who installed the security package never passed the wiring through the NSS.
No shít: One day, I was in such a hurry to get to our seats, I parked at Dodger Stadium but never put the car in park. After the game, my wife and I were one of the last people to leave. When we wer about 50 yards form the car, which was now the only car in that part of the lot, I started the motor with the remote and yes, indeed, the car took off, doing donuts around the parking lot.
Thankfully, the window was open (I always leave my windows open) and I raced around with the car until I could dive in head-first. It took a few seconds (donuts) before I could grab the brake pedal with my left hand and stop the car.
When I got out, there were 4 people at the other end of the lot 300 yards away, just standing there, completely motionless in disbelief. It took several minutes of running around with the car and they were watching the whole time, apparently alarmed by my wife's screaming and the sight of a Mustang driving around with two legs sticking out the window.
I was going to bring the car back to the Alarm dude, but my wife hit a Dentist in a 650 Mercedes head on and totalled the car soon after that. We bought an SUV, and never got remote start installed in any other car again.
As hysterical as it is when I tell people this story, it was scary thinking that if we left the game earlier, people could have been killed. We weren't laughing when we drove home that day.
Everytime I see the words, Neutral Safety Switch, I see my red vert driving in circles at the ballpark. I always will.
CP
Last edited by Carlos Pineiro; Oct 18, 2008 at 12:25 PM.
America ftw
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,261
From: ca
When you get under your car you'll find the switch located on the left side of the trans with 2 screws holding it on. The switch has slotted holes so the it can be rotated. You want to make sure that you linkage is adjusted properly first. The switch has a small hole in it that allows you to align the netural gate. Clean the side of the switch and you will find a hole that a paper clip or the butt end of a small drill will fit into. (Find the largest drill that will fit without forcing it). Block the wheels put the car in netural loosen the screws rotate the switch untill your "line-up" tool goes through the switch. Carefully tighten the retainer screws. Good luck.
so i have to find NUETRAL on my tranny, then find nuetral on the switch by lining up the small hole with a paper clip, then have the shifter in nuetral, and bolt it all together, so then all 3 things are in the nuetral position ? am i correct?
4th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,090
From: Az
Basically, yeah. Sounds complicated when you say it though. The way I do them is to put the shifter in neutral. I go by how the "gate" feels as it has a lock to keep from going to rev(?) Then, make sure the trans is fully in the neutral "detent". That makes sure that youor linkage is adjusted properly first. Then loosen the 2 screws on the switch, and adjust it to where you can fit a paper clip into it. (there is a specific size drill bit that fits for the best alignment but, I forget the size) When you are done, make sure it starts in park and neutral but not in drive or rev.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 958
From: Santa Monica, Calif.
Basically, yeah. Sounds complicated when you say it though. The way I do them is to put the shifter in neutral. I go by how the "gate" feels as it has a lock to keep from going to rev(?) Then, make sure the trans is fully in the neutral "detent". That makes sure that youor linkage is adjusted properly first. Then loosen the 2 screws on the switch, and adjust it to where you can fit a paper clip into it. (there is a specific size drill bit that fits for the best alignment but, I forget the size) When you are done, make sure it starts in park and neutral but not in drive or rev.
CP
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