4 Symptoms of a Bad Neutral Switch
You turn the ignition key and… nothing happens. The crankshaft won’t turn, and it won’t start. This and other startup issues are frustrations most people will experience at some point. But the problem might not be an expensive starter or battery, but an inexpensive part that many people don’t even think about: the neutral switch.
We’ll explain the most common symptoms of a bad neutral switch, what this little part does, and how much it costs to replace it. What is a Neutral Safety Switch?The neutral safety switch is a critical but often overlooked component in vehicles with automatic transmissions. Its job is to prevent the engine from starting when the gear selector is in any position other than Park or Neutral.
Here’s how it works: The transmission must be in Neutral or Park for the engine to start. Most drivers already have the gear in Park if they’ve parked their car before. No problem.
But automatic transmissions have a built-in safety mechanism that prevents the engine from starting if the gear selector lever is accidentally put into Drive or Reverse before starting. This safety component is the neutral safety switch, which also functions as the backlight switch.
For example, if the gear selector lever is accidentally bumped or left in Drive before starting the engine, the neutral safety switch prevents the engine from cranking. That way, your car won’t suddenly roll forward when you turn the key.
Where is the neutral safety switch?The location of the neutral safety switch varies by vehicle model. In modern vehicles with a floor-mounted shifter next to the driver’s seat, the neutral safety switch is often located under the shift mechanism.
In vehicles with a steering wheel-mounted shifter, the shifter is usually located on the steering column. Some vehicles have the switch mounted directly on the outside of the transmission housing.
Manual transmissions incorporate a similar safety component in the clutch pedal to prevent starting if the clutch is not depressed. It is also known as a “clutch starter safety switch.”
Common Symptoms of a Bad Idle Safety Switch
If your neutral safety switch is defective, it can cause irreparable damage to your engine and/or transmission. For this reason, you should be aware of the symptoms of a bad idle safety switch. That way, you’ll know when to take your car to a mechanic to have the faulty switch replaced.
1) No Start in Park Mode
If your automatic transmission won’t start when you put the key in the ignition and the engine won’t start, you may have a problem with the neutral switch.
Of course, a bad battery or starter motor can also cause the same symptoms, so you may not realize that this problem is directly related to the neutral switch.
2) No Start at Idle
In some cases, the engine will start in park mode but won’t start at idle. This is another possible symptom of a problem with the neutral switch.
3) Can Start in Any Gear
The most obvious symptom of a bad neutral switch is if you cannot start the engine in any gear. You may be able to start it even if you put the gear in forward or reverse.
If the engine is running, you may be able to start it again. If this happens while driving, it could lead to a serious traffic accident.
4) No starting in park or neutral
If there is a significant electrical problem with the neutral safety switch, the engine will not start in park or neutral. The starter relay relies on the switch to receive power. If it cannot receive this current, the starter will not be able to start the engine.