Transmission Neutral Switch

A neutral safety switch works just like a clutch switch except that it keeps an automatic transmission from starting in gear.

Transmission neutral switch.

This switch tells the tcm the position of the shift leve. This switch prevents you from starting the engine when the transmission is in any gear other than park or neutral. Transmission range or neutral switch explains the range switch testing or the neutral safety switch. The clutch safety switch on vehicles with manual transmissions serves the same purpose.

Neutral safety switch replacement. After the vehicle is raised on stands to allow for accessing the transmission the shift lever and the cable responsible for changing gears are removed as well as the electrical connector from the switch itself. The neutral safety switch for an automatic transmission is located inside the transmission case or in the linkage that allows the vehicle to shift gears. The neutral safety switch will allow the engine to start with the transmission selector in park and neutral.

The neutral safety switch is usually made of an assembly consisting of the switch held in place by a couple of bolts attached to the transmission and plugged to a wiring connector. Remove the plugged connector by hand ensuring that it does not get damaged during its removal. The switch is located in two places on the vehicle.