Can anyone guide me through the steps involved in replacing the neutral saftey switch in a 1983 300SD. The car will not start unless I go through the gears and end up in neutral. Do i access the switch from under the car or theough the console.

I pulled both my 722.3 transmissions this weekend. The neutral safety switch is accessible under the car on the drivers side near the shift linkage. On a 126 chassis there is prolly more room on that side so it will be easier that doing on a 124 (my 300D's). Removing the rear trans mount will lower the trans a few inches and possibly give you more room to work if you need it.

HTH,

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Brian Toscano

Thank you. I was also told to replace bushings to make sure that the gears are shifting properly. What bushing are they speaking about?

On a W126, you don't have to move the tranny to access the neutral start switch.

First thing would be to make sure it's properly adjusted and that the retaining bolts are tight. Loosen the bolts and swivel it while testing if the engine will start and that the reverse lights come on when the gear lever is in the appropriate position.

The bushings will be on the rod that connects the bottom of the shift lever with the transmission. No bushings? The old ones probably fell off.

If the rod is at all loose, fix that before touching the neutral start switch.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Check this out:

Shift linkage bushing R&R - illustrated

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD