How to bypass the Neutral Safety Switch
10-17-2010, 08:15 AM
#31
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Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
the nss is a saftey item by passing it can be done but what happens the day you have it in gear and start it and run some body or some thing over law suite is it worth it just buy a new one
10-17-2010, 09:55 PM
#34
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Year: 1994 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sure. It usually means a normally positive item is taken out of play by shorting it out. For example in CB radio if you run a two antenna system and wish to use the rear antenna as simply a reflector to throw more signal out the front you "short to ground" the rear antenna by running a ground strap from the normally positive center stud to the side ground stud. "Shorting" a ground to a ground would just be still a ground.
I'll break out the XJ wiring diagram tomorrow night and see if I can trace any commonality between the NSS and the cruise control circuit.
I'll break out the XJ wiring diagram tomorrow night and see if I can trace any commonality between the NSS and the cruise control circuit.
11-03-2010, 12:56 PM
#35
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Mine displayed all the symptoms of a bad nss(no reverse lights, started in neutral for a while) until last Saturday I stopped for gas and then nothing. I tried to do the nss bypass just to get home but still nothing. I am still leaning towards a nss problem but are there any other things that might have gone out.
11-03-2010, 06:02 PM
#36
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Mine displayed all the symptoms of a bad nss(no reverse lights, started in neutral for a while) until last Saturday I stopped for gas and then nothing. I tried to do the nss bypass just to get home but still nothing. I am still leaning towards a nss problem but are there any other things that might have gone out.
Sounds like your starter. Do you wheel it? water gets inside and rust them up. They wont click ,or anything. Try giving your starter a few taps with a metal hammer,i bet it will crank over.
11-03-2010, 08:34 PM
#37
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Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Mine displayed all the symptoms of a bad nss(no reverse lights, started in neutral for a while) until last Saturday I stopped for gas and then nothing. I tried to do the nss bypass just to get home but still nothing. I am still leaning towards a nss problem but are there any other things that might have gone out.
You might have a problem with the engine starter relay. What the NSS does during starting, is provide a path to ground for the engine starter relay to turn on when the ignition switch is turned to start. If this path to ground is not made the starter relay does not activate and no power goes to the starter solenoid. So, you turn key and get nothing. Check the starter relay and see if it is good.
Doing some electrical testing at the engine starter relay can determine the problem.
The NSS, in later PCM vehicles, does have a connection to the PCM. This may be what triggers the cruise control not to work when the NSS is bypassed.
11-04-2010, 12:20 PM
#38
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I will try tapping on the starter after i clean the nss this weekend. I did look at the starter relay and switched it out with the a/c fan clutch relay but still nothing. The starter was dragging for a few days before this happened but I found out the positive terminal on the battery was loose and I am thinking that was caused the starter drag. Thanks for the info. I will ohm the switch out this afternoon.
Also the steering whell does not lock when the key is out. Could this be a ingnition switch problem?
Also the steering whell does not lock when the key is out. Could this be a ingnition switch problem?
11-06-2010, 03:25 PM
#39
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Update- Just got done cleaning out the switch. I think my problem was the spring loaded contacts on the indicator arm inside the nss were gummed up by the old dielectric grease. She starts like a champ now. I can't complain for a vehicle that is 15yrs old. I love the old girl. Thanks for all the help.
04-11-2011, 02:09 PM
#42
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Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
The reason the Cruise Control doesn't work after bypassing the NSS by connecting the B&C cables is because the Cruise system can be disabled by braking, pressing the cancel/off buttons or by switching to Neutral. So eventhough that fix doesn't affect the shiftting, it is normal to affect the cruising. After all you're telling the TCU and/or ECU that is is on neutral.
If you see an image of an opened NSS you'll notice two contacts on the arm, the outter one is for neutral/park and the one closer to the pivot takes care of the shifting.
If you see an image of an opened NSS you'll notice two contacts on the arm, the outter one is for neutral/park and the one closer to the pivot takes care of the shifting.
04-23-2011, 01:30 PM
#43
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Year: '88 trail rig, '01 D.D.
Model: Cherokee
Just repaired mine today. Used Summit Racing SUM-G1433 - Pushbutton Starter Switches, spliced one side to the black wire the other side to the black w/yellow stripe and everything is good. The NSS is only bypassed when I have the button pushed. The switch was only about $8.00 and it works great.
04-23-2011, 04:10 PM
#44
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04-23-2011, 04:31 PM
#45
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Year: '88 trail rig, '01 D.D.
Model: Cherokee
That's a good link, but I cleaned my last year and it started giving me problems again. Even though mine is off-road use only, the pushbutton lets you start your engine without completely disabling your NSS.