Neutral Safety Switch?? - URGENT

[equinox]

When my '77 T2 bus engine dies, it willnot allow me to just put it up 1 notch on the automatic trans and start in neutral. I have to come to a COMPLETE stop, put the level in Park, start it, then put in drive again and go!

This is very, very dangerous. I have heard there may be some sort o neutral safety switch orsomething in the lever??

Can anyone shed some light on this and also how to defeat it? Again, if this was in the design, it is a HORRIBLE idea for me to be going down a road or highway at 50MPH or whataver and then having to stop in the middle fo the street!! :O

Please advise and thanks in advance.

[ccpalmer]

I think most cars are like that?

I would be looking into why my Bus dies so often. That is the real problem.
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'71 Westy

[Abscate]

I believe it is the design but if your engine is stalling at speed that’s the thing to focus on as dangerous
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.ssS!

[pioneer1]

Check the Bently diagram for the shifter. There is a Teflon bar with contacts that wears out. Perhaps the contact for neutral is pooched
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[Amskeptic]

There is an adjustable "contact plate" under the shifter housing in the cabin that allows you to start the engine in Park and Neutral. The reverse lights also go through this switch, so you might want to check if the reverse lights come on only in Reverse.
Colin
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www.itinerant-air-cooled.com

[SGKent]

If by chance the switch is bad, last time I checked, the switch, although long NLA was available as an Echlin part from NAPA Auto Parts. I do agree with all the other here in that the bus should be tuned so it doesn't die so often. Sounds like you have 2 problems - the bus dying and the switch.

NAPA ECH NS6827 (getting rare)


from an older thread on the same switch:

[sjbartnik]

[danfromsyr]

I'd bypass the neutral safety switch..

IMO starting up an AT in gear is no different than a standard. both have the potential of driving on start..

and yes. FIX your stalling problem.
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[Amskeptic]

[equinox]

Thanks for the feedback, but PLEASE focus on my Subject and question (I'm handling the stalling issues seperately).

[borninabus]

as you’ve already been advised, you need to clean and/or adjust the switch.
replace it only if it’s obviously shot.
yes, it should start in N or P.
my auto van (same part) would require a wiggle of the shifter from time to time to get good contact on the saftey switch.
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[Amskeptic]

[busdaddy]

Seems rather straightforward to me

As already mentioned resolve the dying issue, if that happened more than once to me it would be parked until the issue was located and dealt with, I can't tolerate shit like that from any vehicle.
Take the switch apart and clean it, then adjust as Colin suggests. Or continue driving a hazard, if all of this seems over your head try holding the key in the start position and moving the shifter slowly back and forth (avoid reaching park if rolling), you'll likely find that sweet spot where the starter suddenly jumps to life.
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[Sage79]

All good info but just to clarify to the OP: The wiper makes contact to start at two locations: P and N. As others have said, maybe just an adjustment is needed to get it to contact at N as well as P, or perhaps it is worn in such a way that it will not contact in N. The wiper does wear out. The part shown in SGKent's post is half of the switch (the half that didn't wear out on mine). The wiper also makes contact at R for the reverse lights, hence the 3 sets of contacts.
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Dirk
'79 Westy 2.0FI
'73 Sportsmobile 1.7dual Solex 003Auto - now my daughter's
'77 delux 2.0FI 090Auto - now my son's

[pittwagen]

Sage79 has it right. The spring in the contact bridge or wiper wears out. And the gear shift lever in which it sits gets sloppy over time making the contact even less effective.

You can try to adjust and clean the contacts and it may work for a bit.

Just go an buy a new contact bridge. $12-15. Oh and the part# is for a Rabbit. All early water cooled VW autos used the same switch as did the Vanagon.

[equinox]

Thanks for your support guys. I really appreciate it, but just wanted to keep each issue mutually exclusive.

In in Michigan, so it's cold -20 and snow so the bus is in the garage in storage until Spring and not on the rod.

I just got back in town (travel very often), so I'll have to check the reverse thing. However, I'm thinking now and wondering...if I'm having an issue with the switch not starting at all in neutral...since this switch can prevent starting and ignition...is there any possibility the two issues are in deed connected and once started causing contact issues and stlling??

I just ordered both the black and white contact parts from Bus Depot. They have always been great and in supplying the right parts. Since the bus is like 40YO+, I have no issues in outright replacing parts with brand new ones!

[telford dorr]

[equinox]

"No. The switch is an interlock and only prevents the starter from operating. "

well, that sucks! however, it's good to know that you are actually supposed to be able to start the engine in a neutral position also.

I did have someone help me before I went to be last night. First we checked out my 2015 Silverado to see how it worked and the difference when put into the Reverse position. The white lights and reverse lights come on.

On the bus we tried it, and nothing happened! The reverse lights did not come on!

[telford dorr]

Actually, it doesn't suck, as now you know what isn't causing the stalling problem, and can now direct your efforts towards the real cause. Also, the reverse light issue virtually guarantees that the interlock switch is defective, as the same contact likely operates both the reverse lights and the starter interlock. Replacing the switch should fix both issues. Can't beat a 2 for 1 repair...
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'71 panel, now with FI
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[equinox]