Transmission range sensor - Neutral safety switch

Which switch you have depends on which automatic transmission you have the four speed (01M)or five speed (09A).

For the four speed the switch is bolted into the transmission with a single bolt and is real easy to replace. The first two pictures are the four speed switch.
Shut the car off. Disconnect the electrical connector.
Remove the bolt and retainer. Remove the switch by pulling straight out.
Be sure to use a new seal and a bit of lube when you install the replacement switch.
Install the retainer and bolt. Tighten bolt to 7 ft lb (10 Nm)

For the five speed auto it is a bit more involved and you need a special tool to adjust the switch position correctly. The rest of the pictures are the five speed switch.

First thing is to see if the radio has a security code programmed in it, usually there will be a card in the owners manual. If no card and it has one of the premium radios you will need to have a dealer look up the unit to get the proper security code.

Once you have that in hand.
Be sure the transmission is in park. Then block the wheels.
Disconnect the battery and remove the battery carrier assembly.
Remove the nut from the shaft (arrow picture 4).
Remove shift lever from shaft.
Remove the electrical connection.
Remove the retaining bolts and the switch.

Installing the new one requires the tool in picture 5.
First be sure that the groove (1) and the mark (2) on the switch body are lined up (picture 6)
Next slide the switch into position over the shaft and screw the bolts in finger tight.
Install the adjustment tool onto shaft.
Rotate the shaft to place the transmission in neutral.
Now rotate the switch until the hole in the switch housing lines up with the pin on the adjustment tool.
Push the pin into the hole to secure the switch position.
Tighten the mounting bolts to 4 ft lb (6 Nm) while being sure neither the shaft or the tool moves.
Remove the pin and shift the transmission back into park.
Remove the adjusting tool. Reinstall the shift lever. Torque the retainer nut to 7 ft lb (10Nm)
Verify shifter adjustment with the interior shift lever.
Install the electrical connector.
Reinstall the battery carrier and battery.
If needed enter the radio lock code.

The combination neutral start and backup light switch is mounted inside the shifter housing. The starter should operate in Park or Neutral only. Adjust the switch by moving it on its mounts. The back-up lights should only come on when the shift selector is in the Reverse position.

The neutral safety switch and back-up light are combined into one switch referred to as the multi-function Transmission Range (TR) Switch. The switch also supplies input for the on dash gear position indicators on models so equipped.

The TR switch is also used to operate the back-up light.

1.Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2.If equipped with a lower engine shield, remove the shield.
3.Disconnect the Transmission Range (TR) Switch electrical connector.
4.Remove the switch mounting fasteners and remove the switch.
5.Installation is in reverse order of removal.

Seems more like an issue with the back-up light switch, it is mounted on top of the transmission near the starter solenoid.

So is there still a neutral saftey switch plugged in?You have to also hook up the wires to the neutral saftey switch for the back up switch.

Don't quite understand you here-you got a manual tranny and you still bother with a NSS-you suppose to have a clutch switch

Its what tells teh vehicle that the vehicle is in park or neutral. If its not working the vehicle wont start because the starter will not engage because it thinks the vehicle is in gear.

Its cheap and relativley easy to replace.

Instructions

1

Remove the screws holding the shifter boot onto the floor, using the appropriate socket or screwdriver. These screws could have been replaced over time, and might have a hexagon head for a socket, or a slot for a screwdriver. Make sure the Jetta is in "Park."
2

Lift the bottom of the boot up and over the shifter handle, so that it is out of the way -- do not try to take it completely off the handle. Then you can see switch and wiring. See if you can find bypass that was done.

Not all A2 VWs (of that vintage) had a clutch safety switch.

If it had one, look for the switch mounted to the op of the clutch pedal
assembly (pedal cluster).

It would be a 2 wire switch.

You just want to be sure that you don't accidentally start the
engine while it is in gear and NOT have the clutch pressed?

Thomas

Was goin ta bed so I jumped the gun!

Check the ignition switch. Power in & power out.