Neutral Safety Switch not working... any ill effects...?

[fkovalski]

Neutral Safety Switch not working... any ill effects... ?



2005 w/ NV-5600:



I do not need to step on the clutch to start my truck. In a way I kinda' like this in that I do not always need to be in the truck to start it so long as I am in neutral. Please do not flame me saying I'd better change it before an accident happens. I understand the ramifications of not having this factory safety feature intact.



Perhaps it is a simple adjustment that will bring this back into proper operational specifications... but by not having it operating will I have any bad side effect of it being out?



Does the NSS when applied kick down the high idle? I do not recall this geing the case as I will kick it down manually if needed by stepping on the accelerator pedal.



Comments or concerns appreciated.









.

 

[AH64ID]

Shouldn't be an issue, I have actually been meaning to wire my truck to have a bypass switch like Toyota offers. I wired one on my 99 Ford Ranger and it worked well, there are times its nice to not have to step on the clutch.

 

[tp0d]

Doesnt the brake pedal turn off high idle? hmm does on mine

-j

 

[RustyJC]

If you're saying the clutch switch isn't working, one side effect (at least on my 2002) is that depressing the clutch disengaged the cruise control. I wouldn't think that function would be available if the clutch switch is kaput.



Rusty

 

[AH64ID]

Brake should turn off the fast idle.

On my ranger there were multiple switches in the clutch pedal, the cruise worked fine if the switch was on. . but I am not sure on the Dodge.

 

[Motorhead]

I bypassed mine on my '07 right away.
The only ill affect would be accidentally starting it in gear.
Fortunately, the third gen common rail needs to crank a second or two to start.

When I was in the second gen forums, (I had a '01. 5) I read about a proud owner of his new to him, second gen dually with the 6 spd. I guess he opened the door without getting into the truck and hit the key to start it and UNFORTUNATELY it was in gear. The engine started right off and the truck proceded its way through the back wall of the garage!

 

[mwilson]

Consider the drivers door slamming you to the pavement, knocking you under a tire or even worse pinning you against the garage wall and crushing something important... ... . like your ribcage.

I know at times it is simpler not to have an NSS such as right after you service the truck and reach through the door opening to fire it off and watch the oil pressure rise, you are dirty and greasy, don't want to crawl in and set on the seat that way.



You should have something to protect against it happening by accident like a toggle switch as AH64ID suggests because it might not be you that it happens to.

Picture a grandchild, a tech or any of several other scenarios where you may not be right there when someone attempts to start your truck.

These trucks worry me also as they wont stall easily when they encounter an obstacle, just will keep idling along doing damage.

Crushing a human is not going to slow one down any.



Consider the logging contractor up here from years ago that drove a D-7 CAT onto his lowbed, left it idling without setting brakes, flipping the shifter lockout down or dropping the blade. Shift lever was bouncing due to vibration and fell into reverse while he was under the rear of the dozer hooking a chain.

His young son who was with him that day got to watch the dozer back over his father and kill him.

Sad day for all but could have been prevented.



I'm sure he was good with ignoring safety systems, right up until the dozer track started up his leg





I think as clever as some of you are with relays and such that a schematic could be drawn up to enable a switch based on the parking brake being applied as an alternative to an NSS, or it could be wired with a toggle to operate either way depending what you wanted at the time.



JMHO. Not flaming you.



Mike.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Some good points Mike. My main goal in life is not to kill myself or my family doing something stupid.

 

[Blakers]

My clutch switch just went bad today. Do they have to be purchased from the dealer, or do auto parts stores carry them? I think I'll bypass it for now until I can get a new one.



In addition to the switch being a safety item, it can also be a safety hazard. Consider the rare scenario that you run out of fuel or something fails on a railroad crossing. You would have no way of using the starter to crank the truck enough to get off the tracks.



Thanks,

Blake

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I should have a spare switch or two; it clips onto the clutch rod going from the pedal to the hydraulic brake master cylinder.