Neutral safety switch replacement

CAROLYN GWIAZDZINSKI

MEMBER
2010 SUBARU IMPREZA
45,000 MILES

I need to have my Neutral Safety Switch replaced and brought it to the dealership where I bought my car.

They tried to replace it, however I was told that the part was completely rusted in place and couldn’t be replaced. So after hours of having my car, I told them to stop working on the car.

I asked them if there would be a problem driving the car, I was told no.

My husband went to pick up the car, and drove two miles to get back to our place. When he pulled into a spot to go into reverse, the car kept rolling forwards, my husband was finally able to get the car into the spot.

Talked to the service dept and they told him to do some things to tweak the car into gear, tried those things, only the car wouldn’t start.

Now we are being told it’s the shifter cable and that once the cable is replaced everything will work.

Is this true or do we still need to replace the NSS?

10 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,747 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

I can't answer if the switch needs replaced because I'm not sure what was happening. However, if the vehicle keeps going forward when in reverse, they messed up the shift cable adjustment.

Not being sure what the original issue was, I will tell you that the neutral safety switch is adjustable. It simply may have needed adjusted to remedy the problem. Now, the shift cable will need adjusted too.

Here are the directions for adjustment in case you want to try it yourself. If once it is properly adjusted it still fails to operate, then the switch will need replaced. Picture 1 correlates with these directions. Also, the neutral safety switch is referred to as an Inhibitor Switch in the directions.

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INHIBITOR SWITCH
Inhibitor Switch

ADJUSTMENT
1) Set the select lever to "N" range.
2) Loosen the two bolts holding the inhibitor switch.
3) Insert the ST as vertical as possible into the holes of the shifter arm and switch body.
ST 499267300 STOPPER PIN

pic 1

4) T1ghten the two bolts holding the inhibitor switch.
Tightening torque:
5 Nm (0.5 kgf-m, 3.7 ft-lb)
5) Repeat the inspection of the inhibitor switch. If the inhibitor switch is determined to be "faulty", replace it.

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If the switch still doesn't work properly and needs replaced, here are the directions.

Inhibitor Switch

REMOVAL
1) Set the vehicle on a lift.
2) Set the select lever to "N" range.
3) Lift up the vehicle.
4) Remove the front and center exhaust pipes. (Non-turbo model)
5) Remove the center exhaust pipe. (Turbo model)
6) Remove the snap pin and washer from the shifter arm.

Pic 2

7) Remove the plate assembly from the transmission case.

Pic 3

8) Using the ST, remove the spring pin and remove the shifter arm.
ST 398791600 REMOVER

pic 4

9) Remove the two inhibitor switch securing bolts.

Pic 5

10) Remove the inhibitor switch from the transmission.

Pic 6

11) Disconnect the inhibitor switch harness connector from the inhibitor switch.

INSTALLATION
1) Connect the inhibitor switch harness connector to the inhibitor switch.
2) Install the inhibitor switch to the transmission case.

Pic 7

3) Install the shifter arm and fix with a new spring pin.

Pic 8

4) Move the shifter arm to the neutral position.
5) Using the ST, tighten the two bolts holding the inhibitor switch.
ST 499267300 STOPPER PIN

pic 9

6) Install the select cable to the shifter arm.
7) Install the plate assembly to the transmission.

Pic 10

8) Install the washer and snap pin to the shifter arm.

Pic 11

9) Install the front and center exhaust pipe. (Non-turbo model)
10) Install the center exhaust pipe. (Turbo model)
11) Lower the vehicle.
12) Check the inhibitor switch.

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Next, here is the adjustment procedure for the shift cable. Honestly, I feel they left this out of adjustment when it was returned and that's why you can't hit the right gears.

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SELECT CABLE
Select Cable

INSPECTION
Check the removed cable and replace or adjust if damaged, rusty or malfunctioning.
1) Check the cable for smooth operation.
2) Check the inner cable for damage and rust.
3) Check the outer cable for damage, bends and cracks.
4) Check the boot for damage, cracks and deterioration.
5) Move the select lever from "P" to "D" range. Check the existence of feel to contact the detents in each range. If the detents cannot be felt or the position pointer is improperly aligned, adjust the cable.
6) Check if the starter motor rotates when the select lever is set to "P" range.
7) Check the back-up light illumination when the select lever is in "R" range.
8) Check the parking lock operation when the select lever is in "P" range.

ADJUSTMENT
1) Set the vehicle on a lift.
2) Shift the select lever to "N" range.
3) Lift up the vehicle.
4) Remove the rear exhaust pipe.
5) Remove the heat shield cover.

Pic 12

6) Loosen the adjusting nuts on both sides.

Pic 13

7) Turn adjusting nut B until it lightly touches the connector.

Pic 14

8) Set a spanner wrench to adjusting nut B so that it does not rotate, and then tighten the adjusting nut A.

Pic 15

9) After the completion of adjustment, confirm that the select lever operates normally at all ranges.
10) Install in the reverse order of removal.

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If you were not having trouble shifting into the correct gear prior to the work, the cable is most likely not the problem but rather, it wasn't properly adjusted after they gave up on the switch.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

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