• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

disable neutral switch nuisance??


stumpcatcher

New Member
Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
78
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
86
Make / Model
ford
Transmission
Manual
Hi
I have 85 ranger 5 speed manual 2WD

Can you tell me how to disable the neutral switch so that the starter will crank when the transmission is in gear and the clutch pedal is not depressed??

thanks
 


adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,614
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
Well, as with many things that people want to disable, the switch is a safety feature, not a "nuisance".

But killing it is pretty easy and there are two ways to go about it. The first is temporary and allows it to be put back to the factory configuration if you ever want to. The other is somewhat more permanent.

1) Go to the junk yard, find an 83-87 Ranger or BII that has an automatic trans. Look up under the dash near where the switch would be. You will find a little black connector with a wire that just loops over. Take that loop off and plug it in to your NSS plug.

2) Just cut the wires off at the sensor and solder them together.
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,487
Reaction score
4,678
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
or just pull the clutch safety switch jumper from a 85-88 automatic equipped rbv and plug that in to your clutch pedal switch. that is the one that should be stopping you from being able to start it anyway.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
578
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
If you bypass that neutral/clutch safety switch DO NOT...DO NOT install a remote start system ever. A friend of mine did that in his 99 Dodge Ram, and not thinking about it, installed a remote start system, nice feature, but when you let your kids play with your car keys, and they hit the remote start button on a truck with a manual transmission that's in gear, well you can imagine the rest, actually it was parked behind his father-in-laws car, which the truck nicely crawled up the back end of that car.

Safety features are there for that reason so something like that won't happen. My 84 Bronco 2 doesn't have it, or it has been removed or bypassed. Personally I don't worry about it because when my truck is parked its in neutral and the parking brake is set, but if someone else were to drive it not knowing the safety feature isn't there or not working it could be extremely dangerous.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,614
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
or just pull the clutch safety switch jumper from a 85-88 automatic equipped
Up to 87 had the two wire open/closed switch.

88 changed the bend in the clutch pedal arm and started using the 4-pin triple function switch.
 

stumpcatcher

New Member
Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
78
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
86
Make / Model
ford
Transmission
Manual
OK very good answers.
AND I have an 86 with autotrans I can take the parts mentioned from. :yahoo:


thanks
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,614
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
Yeah, it can be a useful ability to have. I rocked the shorting bar for a while after the actuator rod on mine broke, until I swapped out to 88 all parts from a parts truck I bought.
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,487
Reaction score
4,678
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
definitely useful but also dangerous.

but my 86 87 and 88 2.9 trucks had 6 pin jumpers, though i seen several setups as well, just not sure of all the years. the triple function was supposed to start in 87 but my 86's all had the same. the 85's i swapped v8's and 4.0 into i gutted anyway but seem to remember single switching in those that were tag type....the earlier trucks had odd shit all around.

so its possible the earlier carb style actually send a start signal thru the ngs....but on ford eec efi units the neutral switch usually completes a ground signal return from pin 46 to pin 30 and the actuall cranking just goes thru the clutch switch.

an auto equipped unit usually sends a power pulse to pin 30.

at least thats how i remember it. i could be wrong.....my memory aint what it used to be:icon_twisted:...not that it was ever real good:D
 

UrbanRedneckKid

Active Member
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
2,439
Reaction score
17
Points
38
Age
36
Location
Cass Co, Missouri
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Manual
Well, blah blah blah...
2) Just cut the wires off at the sensor and solder them together.
That's what I did on one of my old B2s, kinda.

I ran the wires to a hidden switch under the dash,
only because somebody thought it would be necessary to make it so all my close friends had a copy of my key...

Oh high school... How I don't miss you.
 

wildbill23c

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ham Radio Operator
Joined
Aug 22, 2012
Messages
3,917
Reaction score
578
Points
113
Location
Southwestern Idaho
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
215/70-R14
My credo
19K, 19D, 92Y, 88M, 91F....OIF-III (2004-2005)
That's what I did on one of my old B2s, kinda.

I ran the wires to a hidden switch under the dash,
only because somebody thought it would be necessary to make it so all my close friends had a copy of my key...

Oh high school... How I don't miss you.
And the reason my keys are always in my pocket, one so I never lose them, and 2 so dumb ignorant people aren't screwing around with my stuff. However the switch under the dash idea would be kind of an anti-theft device as well.
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,487
Reaction score
4,678
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
yeah, my little redneck princesses were getting shit from guys saying they were going to swipe her bronco and go boggin.....and a few said they were gonna take mine as she drives my ranger quite a bit depending on my work schedule as well. none of my vehicles require keys....cause i hate keys. you just turn the fob to unlock the steering and turn certain funtions on.


so she challenged them to take them on a few different occasions.


even after a 1/2 hour none of the morons could figure out how to start any of the trucks....this is over numerous occasions.(so no real mechanics at this point)


of course i did not have the normal b&m shifter hooked up at that time in my truck either....****ing idiots didnt even know what glowplugs were:shok:

at that time she fired it up and then challenged them to take it for a run.

no winners there either.:icon_rofl:


so she is as hillbilly as i have ever been.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,614
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
definitely useful but also dangerous.

but my 86 87 and 88 2.9 trucks had 6 pin jumpers, though i seen several setups as well, just not sure of all the years. the triple function was supposed to start in 87 but my 86's all had the
IIRC the 86 and 87 only got the triple function switch if they had cruise or push buttom 4x4.

My 87 has a triple function right now, and even if you did know what you were looking at you might not catch that is isn't right because with all of my mods I am very meticulous about making it look like it belonged there.

Very little on my truck matches it's factory configuration, but even my shop foreman who has been a Ford enthusiast since the 70's has trouble telling what is stock (really just the steering wheel and key at this point) and what is something I have done to it.
 

doorgunner

Lab Rat for V.A. hospital
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
MTOTM Winner
2009 Truck of The Year
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
12,784
Reaction score
516
Points
113
Location
New Orleans (8' below sea level & sinking)
Vehicle Year
1934/1989
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
350+1
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
N/A
Total Drop
3/4
Tire Size
23570R15
My credo
JESUS Loves Ya!
Hi
I have 85 ranger 5 speed manual 2WD

Can you tell me how to disable the neutral switch so that the starter will crank when the transmission is in gear and the clutch pedal is not depressed??

thanks
It must be the meds.......but.....why do you want to start the engine in gear with the clutch engaged?

I would assume that you mean in neutral....but one never knows unless one askssssssss.
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,487
Reaction score
4,678
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
if you wheel with a carb, its necessary in low range low gear often to get the rig level....even with efi on certain stall obstacles it helps keep it running.


then if you lose your slave cylinder you can still drive by powershifting...when you have to stop you just start it in first gear....

i drove a few different vehicles that way through a few winters.

those are just a few reasons i do it.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,614
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
It must be the meds.......but.....why do you want to start the engine in gear with the clutch engaged?
I had a wiring issue in my engine harness a few years ago where being able to get the truck rolling with the starter like that was the only way to get it to start consistently. The TFI wasn't getting power in start, only run, so if you got it rolling and left off the key the truck's movement would keep the engine spinning long enough for it to catch.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

Today's birthdays

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Mudtruggy
May Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top