Is it possible for the neutral safety switch on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee to correctly operate the back up lights and not allow the proper ground for the starter.

 

Yes, it can happen. You can jump the terminals on the plug and see if the engine turns over. I'm not sure which wires to jump, but there are only three of them.

 

I can barely see what I believe to the large nut on the neutral switch. It is above the transmission dip stick tube and there are all kinds of wires and ground wires in the area and it looks almost impossible to get to. Looks like the dip stick tube would need to be removed along with the starter to get to it.
In the mean time the thing ohms to ground from # 86 on the starter relay. I have a new starter on and it still clicks several times before finally starting. The back up lights work perfectly. I have order a replacement switch but am worried about even getting to the thing on the transmission which at this stage I can not even see.

By the way, terminal 85 gets 12 volts on it by just turning the ignition switch on. Not just when turn the switch to start position.
Bob

 

The neutral safety switch is at the left rear corner just above the pan, very easy to get to. Check the battery connections and clean them. How old is the battery?

 

I work on a lot of old cars and have my own lift, but I am just missing something, or too ignorant to know the difference, but at the drivers side rear of transmission above transmission pan, I see nothing that looks like the simple pictures I have seen on line. I did find the plug with 3 wires that go into a big bulky unit that I unplugged and the starter nor back up lights would work. I plugged it back up and the back up lights work, but the starter is worse than ever. I only got it to start once. I have yet to see the big nut with lock tab washer nor the adjusting bolt with even using a mirror. There appears to be several wires in one conduit coming out the top and this fits only instruction I have seen is the wires are unclipped in the engine compartment.

There is a cable operated mechanism on top of this thing that I have not heard mentioned in any of the on line instructions. The switch is definitely is not mounted up right with the big nut and adjusting bolt showing.

 

This is the switch.

 

Have I ordered the wrong deal with the triangle plate and rotor contacts that everyone talks about cleaning the contacts instead of replacing. I have not seen anyone reference this little switch. They talk about the rotor switch costing from $200 to $400.

 

They're talking about the NSS on an XJ. A completely different animal.

 

There are many vendors on ebay selling the below for Jeep Cherokee. I am one ignorant that has one on the way bases on the many to how to do its I have read on line.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351023332591...2649#vi-ilComp