|
If
the reverse lights on your XJ have stopped working, or only work some
of the time, your Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) could need to be cleaned.
The NSS is what controls your reverse lights as well as what keeps the
engine from being started in any gear other that Park or Neutral (hence
the name). Having the dealer replace the NSS will cost you between $300-$400,
so doing this yourself can save you a bundle!
|
|
First thing
to do is locate the NSS of course. It's down on the passenger-side
of the tranny. Not the easiest location to work on, but all you
really have to do under the rig is get the NSS off the tranny...
Now that
you've found the NSS, you'll need to remove the 12mm bolt from
the top of the switch case, then pry down the tabs on the lock
washer and remove the large nut from the switch
case.
|
|
Next you'll
need to pull the NSS off the tranny. It's rather stubborn, and
you can't 'twist' it off -- it's got to come straight off. Using
a great tip I got from the JeepsUnlimited
Cherokee forum, I threaded the retainer nut back on a couple of
turns, then used a flat head screw driver to carefully pry the
NSS off, using the lip of the tranny pan for leverage. This worked
like a champ and didn't damage the unit.
|
|
|
|
Now you'll
need to go unplug the NSS from the engine bay. The plug is located
to the side of the valve cover by the dipstick. The harness will
probably be held in by a couple of zipties, this was actually
the hardest part of the process -- snaking my hand up behind the
engine to cut the zipties. One thing I found handy was to tie
a length of wire to the plug, so that when I pulled it down and
out of the engine bay, I threaded the wire down with it. This
will help out later when you need to get that plug back up into
the engine bay from below.
|
|
This is what
the NSS and its harness looks like.
|
|
|
|
Now that
the switch is out of the vehicle, it's time to take it apart and
clean it. There are 6 small Phillips-head screws holding the switch
case together. Once you remove these screws you can pull the two
halves apart.
|
|
With the
switch disassembled, clean out both halves with carb cleaner or
something similar. I used brake cleaner. Be careful removing the
wiper arm, there are two small spring-loaded brass contacts that
may fall out, and they're hard to find if they do... On mine,
one of these contacts had gotten stuck up in the wiper arm due
to the dried out grease inside the switch.
|
|
|
|
Once everything
is nice and clean, take some very fine sand paper and polish the
terminals on the switch half as well as the contacts in the wiper
arm.
|
|
Now grease
the switch parts with some white lithium or dielectric grease
and reassemble the switch.
Place the
switch back on the shaft on the tranny and replace the lock washer,
retainer nut, and locating bolt. Here's where the wire we threaded
down earlier comes into play... the NSS's plug needs to go back
up into the engine bay. The the end if the wire around the plug
and haul it up. Plug the harness back in!
|
|
That's really
all there is to it.
Verify the engine will only start with the tranny in Park or Neutral
and that your reverse lights are working again. Total time was about
2 hours, taking my time and taking photos. Total cost was a couple of
bucks for cleaner and grease. Definitely well worth the time and effort,
especially compared to shelling out a couple hundred at the dealership!
Return
to Jeep Tech | Return
to Jeepin'
|