Mercury 1954 Merc O Matic question

R

rasmuss

Junior Member
I have a bone stock 1954 Mercury Monterey with a Merc o Matic.

The problem I have is that you can start the car even in drive and reverse..
What I understand that is a no no and you should only be able to start in P or N..

Were is the issue? in the ignition lock or in the gearbox itself?
Anyone that can give me a clue were to start..

 
some time in past someone has bypassed the NS switch.it is -should be at bottom of steering column in engine compartment.it will be crescent shape to fit column there will be 4 wires 2 for backup lights 2 for NS.2 are bullet type I think if like ford 2 will be blade type again if like ford.on ford the blade type are NS if memory serves me right.if you can post a picture someone may see if it has been bypassed nice looking car
 
rasmuss said:
So could it be the neutral safety switch itself? . . .
Click to expand...
If the switch is connected but broken it most likely would not work at all... no starting.
Chances are very good the switch is bypassed in the wiring. (it's cheaper & faster than replacing the switch when the car is for sale, don't ask me how I know) :(
.
 
Last edited:
I don't know about the 1954 models but earlier models started in neutral only. The park or neutral starting feature came later. The shift tube operates the switch. The early ones had the switch next to the lever that connected to the transmission in the engine compartment but FoMoCo updated stuff year to year. If it starts in gear the the switch has been completely bypassed.

The switch only affects the starter function. The ignition is still on when you turn on the key switch. This way the car could be pull started if necessary. Many of the Borg Warner designs had two pumps so that the car could be flat towed or pull started.
 
dmsfrr said:
If the switch is connected but broken it most likely would not work at all... no starting.

Odds are the switch is bypassed in the wiring. (it's cheaper & faster than replacing the switch when the car is for sale, don't ask me how I know) :(
.
Click to expand...

That would be something if attempting to start in gear with either a too high fast idle setting or having it floored trying to clear a flooded engine ... :eek:
 
KULTULZ said:
That would be something if attempting to start in gear with either a too high fast idle setting or having it floored trying to clear a flooded engine ... :eek:
Click to expand...
But it sure is handy if car dies in middle of intersection. Been there done that, but seriously not safe at all. I believe 58 was first year it would start in park "and" neutral.
 
Yes it is quick & easy if the engine stalls when starting up at a green light. You don't have to take it out of gear and further annoy the drivers around you. :D
 
Someone has pulled the two red wires off the starter neutral switch and connected them together at the rubber insulated barrel connector. If you open the hood and look at the base of the steering column you will see two wires disconnected from the starter neutral switch. Look straight up along the inner fender apron and you will see those two red wires connected together.
The reason why they did that is because the starter neutral switch contacts are burned up or the switch is out of adjustment.
The starter neutral switch simply "enables" the start circuit to be completed only when the gear select lever is in neutral. Disconnecting the two wires from the switch and connecting them together bypasses the switch and allows the circuit to be completed regardless what gear the transmission is in.
 
The two red wires with bullet connectors are the start circuit. The other two wires with fork-tongue terminals are for the backup lights. On the '55 and later models, the backup light wires had straight blade push-on terminals instead of fork-tongue, but the rest of the switch is identical to the '52/53/54 switches.
 
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN8596.jpg
    DSCN8596.jpg
    73.6 KB · Views: 60
  • DSCN8598.jpg
    DSCN8598.jpg
    59.9 KB · Views: 56
Last edited:
I would seriously consider replacing all of the old varnished/cambric jacketed wiring with modern thermoplastic jacketed wiring. Insulation value of the old stuff is very questionable by now. The two start enable wires could easily be touching anywhere between switch and back to the dash (which would be the same as having a permanent bypass of the switch).
 
Put a later model switch on my54.Starts in park only now. Had to make a bracket to offset it to clear dual exhaust manifold. Little adjustment and it works fine. Car carrier guy couldn't start it causee he didn't try neutral.
 
Yeah the switch was non functional and bypassed
With a NOS safety neutral switch and adjusting it it now works fine.

Thanks for all help!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top