Can the NSW be repaired? My car will start in Drive, but not in Reverse. Is it worth fixing or just replacing with reproduction part? Has anyone successfully repaired a NSW?
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Re: 1960 Neutral Safety Switch (NSW)
Sometimes they can be opened and repaired, but usually the contacts are 'shot' after this length of service.... I'd replace it. Typically, differences between original and service replacement units lie in the wiring harness (different color coding and hue), which can be 'transplanted' from your original to the replacement unit.
Is it worth it? Well, other than the impact of point loss in an NCRS Operations Check and/or Performance Verification Test, you simply have to ask yourself how 'robust' is the umbrella rider you bought for your homeowners and auto insurance policies?
This is a safety device. Should the rare case happen where a third party operates the vehicle and does bodily or property damage resulting from a defective NSW and it's determined that you knew and did NOT repair, you're probably into a situation of testing the limits of policies.... -
Re: 1960 Neutral Safety Switch (NSW)
Joe,
I am real retentive and insist on using any original part that is possible, so I rebuilt mine. The contacts that are inside are fairly robust and the current that flows through the switch is almost non-exsistent, so the contacts almost never truly go bad. Now corrosion is adifferent matter, as the switch is under the car and subject to a lot of splash.
The switch is coated in a material that is intended to keep the water out and it will need to be removed before you can uncrimp the case. The switch is fairly straight forward and easy to clean up once tyou uncrimp the tabs that hold it together. Remember that the switch is fail-safe, that is to say that it only makes contact in the N and P position, so failure causing the car to start where it was not intended to do so, should not be an issue.
That being said, It would appear that your switch is simply mal-adjusted since it will allow the car to start in the drive position. The switch is mounted in a bracket that allows the switch to rotate to the proper adjustment. Just disconnect the switch wires under the car and put an ohm meter across the leads and adjust the switch until the contacts just close with the shifter in park. With this adjustment, the contacts should open as soon as you take it it out of park and will close again at the neutral position. My guess is that the contact closure that you are seeing at drive is the one intended for neutral and that the park contact closure is beyond the range of the shifter.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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