Assist me with locating the neutral safety switch

MOMMY_NOEL

MEMBER
1997 NISSAN ALTIMA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

I do not have a lot of money to be taking my car to a dealership. Unfortunately I am not rich or as car smart as bluelightingtn so I would prefer someone who can be respectful to actually assist me with locating the neutral safety switch on my car so it can be replaced. Pictures would be amazingly helpful. I am a mother of two children and been without a car for a month and desperately need someone who can walk me through it STEP BY STEP at the very least with diagrams!

5 Replies

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

The switch unit is bolted to the transmission case, at the base of the transmission shift lever.

Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Disconnect the manual control linkage from the manual shaft.
Remove the switch attaching bolts.
Remove the switch from the transmission.

Neutral safety switch mounting bolt locations-automatic transmission

To install:

Install the switch on the transmission and hand-tighten the attaching bolts.
Adjust the switch and tighten the bolts securely.
Connect the manual control linkage to the manual shaft.
Adjust the manual control linkage as necessary.
Lower the vehicle.

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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM

MOMMY_NOEL

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Is this diagram under the hood on the transmission or is this under the P-R-N-D-1-2 shifter thing? If its under the shifter how do I remove the shifter?

Where is the manual control linkage and how do I disconnect it?

Under the shifter is like a plastic rainbow shape thingy is that the safety switch?

My friend pulled the entire dash out and there are so many wires out that I am lost and not sure what is radio wires and what is car wires if that makes any sense.

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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

Here are shots of the switch, it is the complete part shown..

The manual control linkage is the part at the very bottom of what you use to change your gears, it will attach to the neutral safety switch, i have it highlighted in the pic.

Have your friend raise up the vehicle and support it with jack stands. Go underneath vehicle about middle way where he/she will be underneath the radio area, that is where the switch can be accessed easiest.

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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM

MOMMY_NOEL

MEMBER
4 POSTS

So do we need to be working inside the car or under the car?

Is removing the shifter required? How do you remove the shifter?

Any specific tools we need?

How do u test the safety switch? We have a test light can that be used? If so how?

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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

Follow this link to learn how to test it

https://www.2carpros.com/how_does_it_work/how_a_neutral_safety_switch_works.htm

yes work from under vehicle..the manual control linkage is the bottom of the shifter..so to detach this from the switch, use a wrench to keep the shift lever from rotating. Remove the nut from the end of the selector shaft. Carefully remove the shift lever from the selector shaft. No special tools needed, just basic mechanic tools i.e. wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets etc...