I think my NSS on my 89 420SEL is bad or out of aligment. Is there a way to jumper the connector to test if the car will start? Yes the bushings are gone, looks like for a long time and I ordering new ones, it just concerns me the car would not start in neutral with me whiggling the shifter, which it should I think, if the linkage had it out of aligment.

By the way if the switch was good, would I still hear the fuel pump running when I turn the ket to the start position?

Thanks all for any thoughts.

Tom

You have made a very good observation. The start signal to the fuel pump relay is after the neutral safety switch. I'd look to the starter.

Have someone hold the key to start position and smack it (the starter).

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve thanks for the tip, I guess you understood what I was tring to say about the switch, that is if it was bad or out of aliginment would the fuel pump kick in? So I think you are saying is the pump should only turn on if the switch is working. I guess there is also a line from the switch for the starter circuit, since the switch does not only stop the fuel pump from working.

I just did not think the starter because usually when that happens the lights dim while the stuck starter sucks all the amps from the battery.

Anyway to bypass the NSS?

talltom,
If the brushes wear out in the starter, you will not get even a click out of it.
Try Steve's trick and have someone hold the brake VERY hard and turn the key to start while you hit the starter with a hammer. If it starts, don't shut it off but take it directly to where it will be replaced or rapaired. The trick may not work more than one time.

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

With the bushing worn out severely, just wiggling the shifter might not be enough. Press very firmly on the brakes, put the key to "crank" and actually move the shifter fron park through drive slowly and see if you get a crank output. Hold the brake because possibly it will start in some gear other than park or neutral.

Gilly

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Talltom: I just went through the same thing with my car.I Tried adjusting the switch but it only lasted a week,and i would have the same problem.I replaced the switch and the bushing on the shift rod.So far no problem.Note: Replacing the rod bushing is no problem,the other bushing is on the bottom of the shift lever.I worked on that bushing for one hour and gave up.Bad news, i had to remove the intire shifter from the top and replaced the bushing on the bench.

Thanks all for the help. I found the wire from the starter to the solenode(sp?) was broken, but was in place so I could not tell it was broken until I touched it.

I have to wonder about NSS aligment/bushings issuse. I have no bushings and I messed around with NSSaligment, but when I ran a jumper between the solenode and the starter, the starter turned over when I turned the key.

Bushings; I read an older post about putting them in hot water (boiling?) and then they are soft enought to slip on. I guess that could have kept you from having to remove the shifter.

I guess now I get to see if I can property repair the wire on the starter.