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How to test the signal coming out of Park/Neutral Safety Switch

1.4K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  75aces  
#1 ·
Hi everyone,
I am trying to diagnose my 2006 Corolla; the car wouldn't run, and I was able to isolate the problem to the circuit between the Park/Neutral Safety Switch and the starter relay. I want to make sure that there is a signal coming out of the Park/Neutral Safety Switch to the starter relay, similar to how it is shown in the wiring diagram. Unfortunately, the wiring diagram does not show the pin layout of the connector, so I couldn't figure out which signal to test.
Can anyone help me with that?
 

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#2 ·
Have you tried putting the gear selector in neutral and then starting the engine? Parking pawl will eventually wear and will prevent starting in park. Neutral may work, but the gear selector will not read correct position and tell the computer you’re in drive instead of park.
 
#6 ·
Judging from the diagram you posted. Pins 9 and 6 are the "key pins" in the NSS. I'd disconnect the NSS and using an ohm meter or other continuity tester, probe Pins 9 & 6 on the switch side. You should get continuity when the gear shift is in park and neutral. Of course, this is with engine off, wheel blocked, yada yada. If you don't, adjust the switch until you do. Snug down the adjuster and run the shifter through the gears (still engine off) and verify continuity in P and N. Looking in the switch end, the pins are marked in red.

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If all seems good here and still no crank, you can put a jumper across the same pair but on the harness side. This will bypass the NSS for testing purposes. Be aware this defeats the safety and the car will start in any gear!! So with the jumper in place, crank it over. If it starts, your NSS is bad (also check for corrosion in the connectors) If not, there's something else broken elsewhere in the circuit.


If your NSS has screws holding the two halves together, you may be able to clean the internals and get it working again. This is pretty common with this style of NSS. I've done this on my Jeep and Acura.