Hey guys. Im looking for a bit of help to fix my neutral saftey switch. I used the search but couldnt quite find what i was looking for. For about a month now the car has only been starting in neutral and not park so I figured its time to do something about it especially because now and then the car wont start at all. Can I adjust it to make it work properly again or does it just need cleaning? Or am I going to have to replace it all together? If so, how do i make these judgements? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I also have to state that i live in an apartment and am going to school right now and thus I dont have a garage but i do have a good set of tools and a multitester and am getting some jack stands to replace the brake pads as well.

Before you start buying parts, make POSITIVE that you actually need a neutral safety switch. My wifes car went through what you desribe. Only started in neutral. Upon inspection I found that there are 2 rubber gromets in the shift linkage. There is a piece of linkage that basically connects the bottom of the shifter to the trans. The grommets go at each end. Mine were gone. Apparently, they had worn so much that they fell off. A trip to the dealer & about $10 later & it was all fixed.

Good luck

On a friends '83 300SD recently he had a neutraul safety switch go bad. The only way the car would start would be to put it in neutral and move the shifter forward slightly. I had a good working spare and swapped em out and he was good to go. Like cmichalik said - check the linkage first.

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Jim

To check the linkage from the shifter to to the transmission do i just open up the center consol or do I have to go underneath the vehicle? Does anyone have an idea of what these grommets look like and are the self explanatory in nature to install? If it is the saftey switch is it relativeley easy to swap out? Thankyou for the information thus far.

It's been a while since i've replaced mine, but from what I remember they are about 3/4" in diameter w/ a 3/8" hole in hte center. Thay have groove around the outside. I don't remember if i replaced them from the inside or from under the car. I do remember pulling the shift lever for some reason. I think it was to make a little more room under the car. Either way, there's not much hand room under there.

These are the shifter bushings. Bushings
I replaced them in Josephine after reinstalling the engine/trans. A bit awkward, but not impossible. Made easier by slicing a slit diagonally thru the busgibg allowed the bushing to slip in much easier. 10 000km since then, no problems.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.