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1991 Jeep Cherokee neutral safety switch, how to bypass

13 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 3:37 PM

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#8 of 13 Re: How to bypass Cherokee Neutral Safety Switch by weeones4 Apr 24, 2009 (10:24 am)
Hello, I am having some problems w/my 91 Cherokee. Was searching the internet for answers when I had came across this forum. My local garage said that is what I need for mine. This may sound dumb, but, what exactly should I get to bypass the safety nuetal switch? I dont have the $338 plus for a new switch. As I had just replaced throttle position sensor as well as idle air. And I'm being told the coil pack needs done as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time, Cheryl
#9 of 13 Bypassing Jeep Neutral Safety Switch by 409man Apr 24, 2009 (6:31 pm)
HI Cheryl. It really is quite simple. When things are working as they should, when you turn the key to start, the ignition switch sends a 12 volt/low current signal down to the small electrical terminal on the starter solenoid, which is on the starter itself, on the top. When the neutral safety switch fails, it interrups the 12 volt signal to reach the solenoid, even tho your Jeep is in park, so the starter does not crank over. You'll need about 8 ft. of no. 14 wire, a momentary switch, such as a big round doorbell button or the like will work just fine, and also a in-line fuse holder and fuse. Find a 12 volt source, such as the positive battery post, or a 12 volt terminal on your fusebox, Hook one end of your wire to that 12 volt source, splice the inline fuse and holder into that wire, then run the wire to one terminal on the momentary switch, mount it somewhere easy to get at, such as on the bottom of the dash, then run more of your wire FROM the other terminal of your new switch back thru a hole in your firewall, keeping it away from high temp areas, down to that small terminal on the starter solenoid. When the Jeep won't crank over, simply turn your key to the on position, so your ignition is being powered up(for spark), make sure your Jeep is in park, and push the new button, and the car should then crank over and it should start, as long as your key is in the on position. Believe it or not, that's how the old cars started many many years ago. So, you'll have about $10-$15 in parts, Vs. over $200 for that neutral safety switch. The 60's and 70's GM cars had the neutral safety switch under the dash, on top of the steering column, out of the elements, high and dry. They usually would last forever. The Jeep ones are tucked up on the outside of the trans, exposed to rain, snow, salt, and guess what, they fail. HHHHMMM, sounds like a design flaw to me. That's why I bypassed mine, and the fix is still working. Good luck, Brian. Replies to this message: frankiejames (Nov 26, 2009 12:25 pm) frankiejames (Nov 26, 2009 3:37 pm)
#10 of 13 Re: How to bypass Cherokee Neutral Safety Switch [jimbob15] by jimbob15 Apr 24, 2009 (9:16 pm)
Replying to: jimbob15 (Mar 13, 2009 8:33 pm) Well, we did not end up doing the bypass though that was definitely the next step. We had the car at a shop who got the wiring schematics & tracked the problem down to some melted wires somewhere in the stering column. They rewired that portion & we have not had problems since, or so far...good luck.
#11 of 13 Re-Building the NSS is fairly easy by coloradolove Aug 04, 2009 (10:19 am)
Hi, I'm bypassing the neutral safety switch today but I'm posting in regards to the poster who didn't want to bypass but didn't want to pay to replace the NSS either.   I've re-built my neutral safety switch several times and it's really not hard. All you really need is a wrench and some degreaser. You can Google how to do it. I'm not all that mechanically savvy (no formal training) and my experience is limited to stuff I've done on my Jeep and wiring up sound systems. It took me maybe 2 hours tops to re build it.   However, the reason I'm bypassing is because I'm tired of having to rebuild it every year or so. They get gunked up and the metal contact points do get pretty worn down by the time the vehicles are this old (10+ years). So you can easily re-build it you just may have to do it again every so often. Another good option is to find a newer jeep in a junkyard and snag their NSS, rebuild it, and slap it on your older Jeep. Good luck!
#12 of 13 Re: Bypassing Jeep Neutral Safety Switch [409man] by frankiejames Nov 26, 2009 (12:25 pm)
Replying to: 409man (Apr 24, 2009 6:31 pm) Hey Brian or anyone else who could help me out on this...I have a 1995 Cherokee with 3 speed transmission...Same problem as all the others with the neutral safety switch...I followed the directions given and installed a remote"> starter button in the circuit with a fuse...tried hooking it to one of the terminals on what appears to be the starter relay on the back bottom of the starter...nothing happens...tried the other terminal and nothing either...My starter has the main large wire going to a terminal on the top left as viewed from the back of the starter...the selenoid appears to be located on the bottom of my starter and has two terminals...can anyone please help me get this going...Here is a link to a pic of my starter over on imageshack   http://img341.imageshack.us/i/img1298n.jpg/][IMG]http://img341.imageshack.u- s/img341/581/img1298n.th.jpg   thanks so much...Frankie...   Replies to this message: frankiejames (Nov 26, 2009 3:37 pm)
#13 of 13 Re: Bypassing Jeep Neutral Safety Switch [frankiejames] by frankiejames Nov 26, 2009 (3:37 pm)
Replying to: frankiejames (Nov 26, 2009 12:25 pm) Never mind... It helps to be on the starter rather than the generator... Anyone know however, what fuse should be required in this line? Thanks Frankie

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