How do I check the tranmission range sensor?

[motopsycho650]

I work at a 4x4 shop, and was very lucky to snag a very nice condition '94 Explorer with a blown transmission for 200 dollars. I currently have a '92 rust bucket with a 2 year old re-built tranny in it. See where I'm headed with this, I'm going to swap trucks and keep the good tranny. Besides the bad tranny on the '94, the other problem is the key won't engage the starter.

I have jumped the starter silenoid by the battery, and the starter works fine.

I know I have voltage on the ignition wire comming out of the ignition. I have not tested if there is voltage on ignition wire at that silenoid.

Since I'm stuck at work and bored, is there a easy trick to check the tranny range sensor? My problem could be that the sensor is not seeing N or P. Or, is simply could be the silenoid it's self.

 

[motopsycho650]

OK, I do NOT have any voltage on the ignition wire going to the starter sileniod. I'm back to my original theory... It's either a bad wire, or it's the tranny range sensor. If it's the tranny sensor, the good tranny I'm going to put in has a good sensor in it.

 

[doonze]

Sounds like a good place to start, I haven't had to mess with my ignition yet, bout the only thing, but I'm going to have too soon. Need to replace the tumbler n' stuff. It doesn't move right and even though it starts and runs fine it thinks a key is still in ignition and I have to beat it for it to stop dinging at me, and the ACC setting doesn't work, sometimes it won't release the key right, or the key doesn't want to go in sometimes too. Course now I'm off topic... sorry...

Anyway, are you sure the switch is good? Like I said mine is all jacked up and yours could be too, just affecting different things. May it's just not seeing you turning the key?