90 XJ Backup light switch - Adjust or replace?

It is time to find another $tealer, that one is a plain rip off artist.

Yes you can adjust the switch and when bad it can even be rebuilt.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dana Rohleder wrote:

In defense of the stealer, the proper way to repair your condition is to replace and adjust the expensive part. However if you check on a jeep forum you'll find out how to remove, repair and reinstall the switch. Yes the switch is expensive and that dealer is no worse then the rest. It will get to the point where it won't start in park, but neutral should work. A dealer has to stand behind his work and cleaning and relubing the NSS (Neutral Saftey Switch) is a gamble and if you have the time you can do it yourself. But if a dealer's tech cleanes and reinstalls it and it dosen't work then who will pay for the extra time?

Not a dealer tech! JoBo

It really only sounds like it needs adjusting, maybe replacing or rebuilding later, much later.....

You are correct that no tech will repair it, that is for the shade tree specialist. ;-)

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jo Bo wrote:

Can't it be adjusted? There is an adjustment bolt on the unit - what is that for? The switch operates properly - car will only start in P or N. The only problem is the reverse lights do not come on unless you move the lever slightly toward P. It doesn't sound to me like it even needs to be rebuilt - maybe just the linkage needs tweaked. The AllData procedure states also states "Check gearshift linkage adjustment before replacing a switch that tests bad."

I think it is worth a $500 gamble. I think I am going to perform the repair myself. I'll just pay them for what they have done so far, which is look up the part cost & R/R for the job.

For sure it can be adjusted, that is what the 'adjustment' bolt is all about.

It might not be the sloppy part though. That might just be a symptom of a worn bushing in the gear shifter linkage. They do tend to get sloppy over time and yours is at that age. The adjustment will make up for this.

It also could be a symptom of a broken/soft transmission mount or bad/soft engine mount. If the tail of the tranny slides a little sideways like it will with a torn or bad mount, the linkage goes out of adjustment. The adjustment on the switch will not work well or help for long if this is the trouble.

I would first do a close inspection of the linkage and mounts, then just try adjusting it if all else seems fine. That could last for years again.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dana Rohleder wrote:

As per the service manager:

ALSO, THE BACK UP LIGHTS WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WHICH COSTS $253.76 + $195.00 (INCL DIAGNOSTIC TIME ON CHECKING THE WIRING FOR THE SWITCH).

Maybe they are giving me a "break" on the part and raping me for labor (3 hrs vs. AllData's estimate: Parts . OEM Part . Price

Neutral Safety Switch . . Without Chrysler Trans . 83503712 . $287.00 Notes . . With Chrysler Trans . 3747361 . $12.00 Notes . . Aisin Warner (AW-4) . 83503712 . $287.00 Notes

Labor . Skill Level . Warr. . Std.

Neutral Safety Switch . . Replace . . . . Manual Trans . B . 0.3 . 0.5 Notes . . . . Auto Trans . B . 0.5 . 0.8 Notes

Thanks!! Dana

My local $tealership wanted over $300 for the neutral start switch last fall when mine finally got so bad it would only start in "N". I did a simple switch bypass and all is good now, I even have rev. lights (on a switch). Hopefully in July I'll get around to rebuilding the switch.

4 years ago the rev. lights stopped working, considering we drive this XJ about 35,000 KM's per year it took about 140,000 km's until complete switch failure.

Snow...

Why pay them at all? Doing estimates is part of the overhead. Most of the time they're lucking conning the customer into something hideously overpriced. Not this time, eh?

Try to fix it yourself. Here's a link and it's easy to follow. I did it myself and it's like new. I had the same symptoms.

-- Diverman

I've done the same thing with my 97 XJ. In my case the grease had gummed up to the point that the springs weren't pushing the contact bars down. Removed the whole thing, cleaned it up, coated everything in di-grease and it has worked perfectly since.

Drifter "I've been here, I've been there..."

Or do like me and just bypass it KH

New York State DMV doesn't think much of that solution for a street vehicle, or I would.

How does New York know what position your transmission is in when you start it? What could you possibly do wrong with it bypassed?

Ive had mine bypassed for several years with no second thought about any of it. I just start up every time. No more wiggling the shifter all day waiting for the starter to catch. KH

Virginia wouldn't think much of it either. And they do check both starting position and reverse light function when you have a vehicle inspection. (Most of the Metro DC area garages are a "little" anal about vehicle inspections).

Drifter "I've been here, I've been there..."

The problem with my switch is that the backup lights don't come on when it is in reverse, which is how the DMV checks it. The neutral safety portion works as designed. Bypassing it or adding a manual switch may circumvent the backup light issue, but if it doesn't satisfy the DMV, your SOL.

Dana Port Kent, NY