Neutral Safety Switch Issue

[Hawkinsnp]

I am going to keep this short and sweet. I have been unable to find a proper video on Youtube to replace/fix the Neutral Safety Switch on my 2002 Ford Explorer. I am asking all of the "Weekend Mechanics" or certified mechanics what would be the proper protocol to tackle this task?

 

[LMHmedchem]

I have never repaired the NSS on my explorer. That being said, they often work with a plastic sleeve that is attached to the linkage cable. This sleeve moves in and out of the NSS as you put the truck in gear and take it out. If that plastic sleeve is missing or not secured to the cable anymore, the NSS will stop working. This is just to say that it may not be the switch but some other part of the mechanism. It would probably help if you can find the linkage and watch it move as someone puts the truck into gear.

You may be able to find a diagram on line even if you can't find a video.

LMHmedchem

 

[Hawkinsnp]

Nss

LMH,

I appreciate the help, thanks. I will be working the issue in the next couple of days.

 

[05XLimited]

IIRC, the safety switch is located on the drivers side of the trans, just about the same location front to back as the drain plug.
When I was looking for information about my trans, http://www.ratiotek.com/5r55w-complete.pdf is where I found a great PDF on the inner workings.

Appears that they call it the Digital Transmission Range Sensor, I would also search for videos/diagrams by that name.

 

[Hawkinsnp]

Neutral Safety Switch

I appreciate all of the feedback. I located it today and began working it. It has a "yellow sleeve" on it that is hard to pry off and I don't want to break anything that may be important. Has anyone had an issue with this sleeve? I will begin looking at the diagram this evening and hopefully begin the slow process of "re-tweaking". Thanks all.

 

[LMHmedchem]

I appreciate all of the feedback. I located it today and began working it. It has a "yellow sleeve" on it that is hard to pry off and I don't want to break anything that may be important. Has anyone had an issue with this sleeve? I will begin looking at the diagram this evening and hopefully begin the slow process of "re-tweaking". Thanks all.

If you have someone put the truck in and out of gear while you are looking at the yellow sleeve, you should see the sleeve seat into the switch. If this appears to be working, meaning that the sleeve does not appear to be broken, not secured to the linkage cable, not seating all the way into the switch, etc, then the problem is more likely to be in the switch than the linkage.

Sometimes you find that the sleeve is missing, partly missing, not secured to the cable, etc, and that is why the switch is not working. I just thought that was something you could check. I wouldn't mess with the sleeve if it appears to be in the correct location and working. If you break it trying to remove it, that's just one more thing to fix.

LMHmedchem