neutral safety switch

Before cutting anything, check out the connections on both. Maybe easier than you think.

zuburg said:
Yes, that's another reason I'm making the change, much more room to work. The car originally was equipped with a manual transmission so I think the PO did some "custom" work to install the original switch. The wires are all taped up and there is not much slack to work with. I think I will cut the wires near the old switch and splice to the wires on the new switch and hope for the best. I'm guessing the original wires do not have any connectors like the new switch has, so they won't do me any good anyway.
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Well, I think I got it all done today. Man is it hard working with little short wires. I won't know for sure until I get it all back together and can try it. Or should I hook up the battery and test it at the solenoid?
 
If you want to test it to prove the unit is ok or adjusted correctly, just run a battery wire to one of the NSS wires, put it in gear and use a test light on the other wire. The test light should only light up in neutral (or park and neutral if it's been modified).
 
Just finished installing new fuel tank and sender. Next job is installing a neutral safety switch. Car has a 302 with a C4 transmission. PO did not have a NSS at all, and car will start in any gear, not good at all. It's been a while since I have installed one. Right now there is no wiring for a NSS. Am I correct that it mounts on shifter on ****** and one wire of the NSS goes to ignition and the other wire coming out other side of NSS goes to the Selenoid. Also, on a C4 does it matter what year built or do I need to buy according to date on ******?
Paul, that sounds like a good way to test if it's working. Will try to remember that.
 
I don't get the discussion about start in neutral or park. One of my cars fitted with a Lokar shifter and Fordomatic starts in neutral and park, the other with FMX starts only in neutral.
Personally I wouldn't bother changing the switch.
Some years back I bought a 58 switch to change over to park and neutral start but the switch turned out to be the earlier neutral only in a 58 box. Cost me just under $100 by the time I got it and now I just can't be bothered.
 
What did you end up doing on your NSS? I'm pretty sure my 52 Customline is also having a NSS issue and I want to bypass it too.
Thanks,
Jason

Crestliner2 said:
would these 58 switches fit a 52? I currently have a NSS that the arm broke off. I would either like to bypass the switch safely or replace it. but I am having a hard time finding a switch for that year.
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terminator2372 said:
... I'm pretty sure my 52 Customline is also having a NSS issue and I want to bypass it too.
Thanks,
Jason
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If you bypass the NSS the car can be started in any gear. Very dangerous if the car is on a roll-on platform at a service shop somewhere. (even in your own garage if you aren't paying attention)

They were originally made to start the car only in Neutral to avoid having to shift past Reverse every time you were headed for Drive, to cut down on wear & tear to the reverse gear parts. Still a valid concern with an older transmission.

terminator2372, resurrecting old threads is generally not done because it quickly gets confusing knowing who to respond to and about what... a question resolved years ago or the most recent comment.
.
 
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Oilslickwillie said:
Just finished installing new fuel tank and sender. Next job is installing a neutral safety switch. Car has a 302 with a C4 transmission. PO did not have a NSS at all, and car will start in any gear, not good at all. It's been a while since I have installed one. Right now there is no wiring for a NSS. Am I correct that it mounts on shifter on ****** and one wire of the NSS goes to ignition and the other wire coming out other side of NSS goes to the Selenoid. Also, on a C4 does it matter what year built or do I need to buy according to date on ******?
Paul, that sounds like a good way to test if it's working. Will try to remember that.
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correct on wiring. A C-4 should have a NNS mounted behind the ****** shift arm, sort of a crescent shaped switch. If I remember correctly two wires for NS and two for back-up. should be able to sort with a multimeter
 
The dealer issued '57 Ford car owners manuals said "place gear select lever in neutral" to start cars equipped with Ford-O-Matic. They did it this way because they didn't want the owner to have to shift from park to reverse to neutral while the engine was running if they had designed it to start in park. There may have been a fear that shifting into reverse with engine running while auto-choke was engaged might cause premature wear or damage to reverse gear.
 
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