At first I thought I had a neutral safety switch issue, but now I think it might be the shifter bushings. When I park it, sometimes it rolls and clicks until something catches. Also, sometimes it won't start in park(thus the NSS diagnosis). My question is, is there a way to isolate if the NSS is bad or not if the bushings are bad? It's not that expensive, but why replace what's not broken?

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"Gerwalt" 1984 - 300TD

Sounds like three separate problems. If the bushings are bad, replace them. With new bushings, adjust the NSS. Set the shifter in reverse with the key to on/run but engine off. Have someone read out whether the reverse lights are on while you move the NSS through the adjustment range. Set it in the middle of the range. If you still have trouble starting in park or neutral, replace the NSS. If you put the selector in park and the car rolls before park engages, you likely have a worn parking pawl inside the transmission. I don't think there's an easy fix for that.

Sixto
87 300D

I have an '82 300SD with an NSS issue. Prior to the NSS issue, I had a similar issue with the car rolling forward in park until something clicked and it stopped. My issue with that ended with installation of new shift-lever and trans-lever bushings. I also highly recommend new shift lever rod clips if yours are rusty and old. they can come off and then your rod can come out, then you're really kind of screwed. Be careful when/if you remove and replace the trans-lever not to break the tab off of the NSS, as it must be replaced if so. That's what I did, and its been a mystery ever since installing the new one.

I have reverse lights, but no start in Park or Neutral. I'm able to short circuit the starter by bridging two terminals in a little box over the passenger side wheel well, using some wire cable. I'm wondering what is the problem, and if the NSS can supply the reverse light circuit, but still somehow not be correctly indexed to the P or N gears, rendering no key start.