4 Symptoms Of A Bad Neutral Safety Switch (and Replacement Cost)

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Turning the key in your ignition and… nothing. No crank, no start. This, or other no-start issues, are frustrations most of us will experience at some point. But rather than an expensive starter or battery issue, the problem could be an inexpensive part many don’t think about, the neutral safety switch.

Keep reading to learn the common symptoms of a bad neutral safety switch, what this little part does, and how much you can expect to pay to replace it.

What Is a Neutral Safety Switch?

The neutral safety switch is a critical yet often overlooked component in vehicles with automatic transmissions. Its role is to prevent the engine from starting when the gear selector is in any position other than Park or Neutral.

How it works is that for you to start the engine, the transmission gear needs to be set to Neutral or Park. Most drivers will already have the gear in Park from when they previously parked the car. No problem there.

However, automatic transmissions have a built-in safety mechanism to stop the engine from starting if the gear selector is accidentally moved to Drive or Reverse before starting up. This safety component is the neutral safety switch. It serves the dual purpose of also operating as the backup light switch.

For example, if the gear selector is accidentally bumped or left in Drive before you start the engine, the neutral safety switch will block the engine from cranking over. This way, the car won’t suddenly roll forward when you turn the key.

See Also: 7 Symptoms of a Bad Brake Light Switch

Where Is the Neutral Safety Switch Located?

The location of the neutral safety switch varies between vehicle models. In modern vehicles that have a floor-mounted shifter next to the driver’s seat, the neutral safety switch is often located underneath the shifter mechanism.

For vehicles with column-mounted shifters, it’s typically found in the steering column. Some vehicles instead have the switch directly mounted on the exterior of the transmission case.

Manual transmissions have a similar safety component installed in the clutch pedal to prevent starting unless the clutch is depressed. It’s often referred to as the “clutch starter safety switch”.

Common Bad Neutral Safety Switch Symptoms

If you have a bad neutral safety switch, it could cause irreversible damage to your engine and/or transmission. That is why you need to recognize the symptoms of a bad neutral safety switch. Then you will know when to bring your vehicle to a mechanic so that they can replace your faulty switch.

1) No Crank When in Park

If you have set the gear to park in your automatic transmission and the engine does not crank after you turn the key in the ignition, then you probably have a problem with your neutral safety switch.

Of course, you might not recognize this problem as being directly connected to your neutral safety switch because the same symptom can occur from a bad battery or starter motor.

2) No Crank When in Neutral

Sometimes the engine might crank in park but not in neutral. This is another possible symptom of a neutral safety switch problem.

The switch itself might still be in good shape, but it could be loose in the transmission or there could be an electrical issue that is preventing the switch from receiving power.

3) Can Crank in Any Gear

The most obvious symptom of a bad neutral safety switch is when you can crank the engine in any gear. You could have the gear set to Drive or Reverse and still be able to crank it.

If the engine is running, you will be able to crank it again too. This could lead to a serious car accident if this happens while you’re driving.

4) No Crank When in Park and Neutral

If your neutral safety switch is having serious electrical problems, then your engine will not crank in park or neutral. The starter relay relies on the switch for receiving power. If it can’t receive this power, then the starter motor will not be able to crank the engine.

Related: “Service Shifter” Warning? (7 Common Causes)

Neutral Safety Switch Replacement Cost

We recommend Parts Geek for the best prices and selection.

The replacement cost of a neutral safety switch is anywhere from $200 to $350. The parts cost will be around $50 while the labor costs will be between $150 and $300.

As you can see, this is usually a very affordable replacement job to get done. The cost of the part is cheap and since it doesn’t take long for the mechanic to perform the replacement, their labor costs will be cheap too.

Diagnosing a Bad Neutral Safety Switch

If you suspect your vehicle’s neutral safety switch may be faulty, there are a few steps you can take to diagnose the issue and confirm whether the switch is the root cause of the problem or to move on to another component.

Check For Proper Operation

Attempt to Start In Various Gears:

1. With the vehicle in park or neutral, attempt to start the engine. If it starts normally, go on to the next step.
2. Shift the transmission into Drive or Reverse (with your foot firmly on the brake pedal) and attempt to start the engine. If the engine starts in any gear other than Park or Neutral, the neutral safety switch is likely bad.

Listen For Clicking Sounds:

1. Turn the key to the “Start” position and listen for a clicking sound coming from the starter solenoid.
2. If you hear a click but the starter doesn’t engage, the neutral safety switch may have failed.

Test With a Multimeter

Continuity Test:

1. Locate the neutral safety switch (check the owner’s manual or look it up online).
2. Disconnect the wiring harness from the switch.
3. Set your multimeter to the continuity setting.
4. With the transmission in Park or Neutral, connect the multimeter probes to the switch terminals. The multimeter should indicate continuity (a closed circuit).
5. Shift the transmission into Drive or Reverse and repeat the test. The multimeter should show no continuity (an open circuit). If the readings deviate from these expected results, the switch is likely faulty.

Resistance Test:

1. If your vehicle’s service manual provides resistance specifications for the neutral safety switch, you can test it using the multimeter’s resistance setting.
2. Compare the readings to the manufacturer’s specifications to determine if the switch is within the acceptable range.

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KevinKevin has been fascinated by anything automotive since his first go-kart as a kid to his time working as an auto tech for Dodge after obtaining his degree in automotive technology. When he's not working on cars or writing about them, you can find him and his E36 M3 at an event with the local chapter of the BMW CCA. Latest posts by Kevin (see all)

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