oh im sorry for not expanding that acronym.

The neutral start switch is on the transmission and completes the 12V line to the starter motor from the ignition switch only when the trans is in P or N.

It does go bad/get dirty etc and causes startup problems like you mention.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)