OK just went through this and some of the instructions I found were wrong. So here is the latest. If you've made sure that your battery has enough cold crank amps left to power the starter, and you've used a remote starter switch to make sure that the car will run with the key on and then the starter engaged via remote starter (see my post about Remote Starting a W124) , you likely have a problem with the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS).

1. If you can do this while it's on a lift, you'll cut the time by at least half and 10X less swear words.

2. It's tight in there between the side of the tranny and the trans tunnel so you'll have to position yourself so the you are facing it and can use both hands palms facing away from you.

3. Use multiple light sources to see what you are doing.

4. You have to rotate the white locking ring CLOCKWISE to be able to gently pry up the electrical plug away from the Neutral Safety Swtich (NSS).

5. Cut the plastic cable tie on the speedo cable that is mounted on a bracket in front of you to get more room.

6. Release the shift lever on the side of the NSS by removing the bolt with 10mm ends that clamps the lever onto the shift rod spindle, spreading the gap with a twist from screw driver and then gently pry the metal lever up and away.

7. This is the 2nd hardest part- to remove the 10mm bolt at the 1 o'clock position that holds the NSS in place (it's hard to see, use the new replacement part as a guide),you'll first have to guide a small 1/4 ratchet with a 10mm socket to the bolt head using only the tips of you fingers on both hands. Once you've loosened the bolt, unwind the bolt by giggling it with the finger tips of both hands until it comes all the way off.

8. Now you can loosen the bolt at the 9 o'clock position. Make sure to notice that the metal shift lever has a hole in the middle of it half way up where a tab from the plastic NSS lever fits into. My plastic lever just broke off as I was withdrawing it. I believe that the reason why my NSS was failing because the plastic lever had cracked and would only properly align itself intermittently allowing for a start in Park or Neutral.

9. Before you re-install the NSS, use a wire brush to clean off the trans gear shaft spindle head, as well as the shift lever socket itself. Also spray some contact cleaner on the NSS plug. Also, put a small film of grease on the threads of the bolts for the NSS. This will make it easier for the bolt to seat itself in the threaded spots.

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]10. To install the new NSS, insert the NSS and place it so that the bolt at the 9 o’clock can be partially threaded in. This is the HARDEST PART… using only your finger tips (no room to work a whole hand in the space), feel around to find the spot where the bolt fits into the eye of the NSS. With both palms facing toward the trans pan, work the bolt into the eye with your finger tips. It’s not easy at all. The bolt has to go in dead center for it to be able to be threaded in. Remember you can move both the bolt within the eye, as well as, the eye itself until you can find the spot for the bolt. You’ll know you’re in when the bolt rotates in with a slight resistance and doesn’t wobble. Only when you are sure you have the bolt threaded properly will you then use a socket wrench to tighten the bolt down but not all the way.

11. Now re-attach the shift lever while making sure that the tab on the black plastic lever of the NSS is properly situated in the hole of the shift lever.

12. Move the shifter into Neutral gear, slide the NSS as far left as it can go. Now tighten the two holding bolts until snug (not Herculean snug). Next, with the white locking collar in the unlocked position (rotated clockwise and away from you until it stops, a rotation distance of about ½ inch, plug in the NSS cable. It’s a snug fit with no slop. Now rotate the white ring in the opposite direction to lock the plug into place. If it will not easily rotate, it usually means that the plug in not plugged in all the way down and needs to be pressed further inward to allow for the channels of the locking ring to slide past the tabs at the sides of the NSS plug.

13. Start the car in Neutral. Turn the car off. Shift to Park and start the car. If it starts in both gears, the NSS is in the position it needs to be in.

Lastly, using a plastic cable tie, re-attach both the speedo cable and the NSS cable to the bracket at the side of the trans pan.

You should be good to go!

__________________
03 CLK430 Cabrio 211K Pweter Silver/ Oyster Leather
90 300SEL 214k Pearl Black/ Alto Grey/Black Leather

Prior: 85 190E, 88 300TE, 89 300TE, 90 300E 2.6, 90 300TE, 92 300E 2.6, 91 and 93 300SL, 87 Ferrari Mondial Cabrio