What’s a Neutral Safety Switch Anyway?
Alright, picture this. You pop down to grab a pie at the Dinsdale shops, hop in your Toyota Corolla or maybe a Suzuki Swift, and when you go to start her up, nothing. You jiggle the gear lever, try again, and somehow she fires. Annoying, eh? That little drama could be down to your neutral safety switch (also called an inhibitor switch).
Basically, this switch is a small but crucial part. Its job is to make sure your car only starts if the gear stick’s in park or neutral — stops you accidentally launching into the car in front on Kahikatea Drive or backing into someone at The Base. Especially with Hamilton traffic, you don’t want surprises at the lights!
For auto vehicles, the neutral safety switch is usually down on the side of the transmission. For those floor-shift SUVs like a Nissan X-Trail, it’s often near where the lever goes into the gearbox. If you’ve still got a column-shift van or ute, like those old Hiaces people run between Te Awamutu and Hamilton, it’ll often hide under the dash near the steering column.
Manuals are a bit different. You’ll have something under the clutch pedal, mostly to stop you cranking the engine if you’re not pushing the clutch in. That way, you don’t lurch forward and scare the Mrs. outside Pak’nSave.
How Do You Know the Neutral Safety Switch Is Playing Up?
This is one of those faults that can be a real head-scratcher. Here’s how it tends to show up in the wild, based on cars we see coming in from places like Cambridge, Ngaruawahia, even Morrinsville.
Engine won’t start in park – You turn the key in your Honda Jazz, in park, and nothing. Pop it into neutral and hey presto, it fires up. Classic sign.
Engine won’t start in neutral – Sometimes, the opposite. Car will only kick over in park, but not in neutral. Had a lady in a Volvo XC60 with just this. Weird, but it happens.
No reverse lights – In a few models (seen it in some Subarus and Isuzu Bighorns), the neutral switch also deals with reverse lights. If those aren’t working when you back out of your driveway in Melville, this could be why.
Shifting headaches – Ever had trouble getting your Mazda Demio out of park, or struggling to shift into drive? Could be a dodgy neutral safety switch as well.
Car refuses to start at all – Sometimes, the switch grinds right out and the car won’t start in any position. Bit of a showstopper if you’re trying to get the kids to Hillcrest High first thing in the morning.
Other times, the opposite — it’ll start in any gear, even drive or reverse. Honestly, that’s dangerous as. Car could jump forward if you’re not careful. If you want to dig deeper on why cars don’t start, have a squiz at Other reasons your car may not start >.
Where’s This Thing Actually Located?
Most of the time, in the autos we get, you’ll find the neutral safety switch bolted up to the transmission, chucked right by the gear selector linkages. Not always obvious, buried under a bit of road dirt (cheers, Hamilton potholes and construction dust), but accessible for a pro with the right tools.
Is It Safe to Drive With a Faulty Neutral Safety Switch?
To be honest, nah, it’s not flash. Unpredictable starting, the risk of the car moving without warning, and no reverse lights make things dodgy in day-to-day Hamilton traffic — Peppertree traffic, Tristram St rush hour, or out in the fog in Tamahere. If you do need to limp somewhere, keep it parked flat and always start with your foot solid on the brake. But really, best to get it sorted ASAP, especially for your next WOF Hamilton check.
Need a Fix? Neutral Safety Switch Repairs in Hamilton
If your car’s giving you grief starting up or the reverse lights have packed it in, drop by Grimmer Motors. One of our techs can check out whether it’s the neutral safety switch or something else, and sort a replacement if you need one. Whether it’s a hybrid repair or a classic Falcon with an old-school auto, we’ve got the gear and experience to get you sorted and back on the road, safe as.
For anything neutral safety switch or inhibitor switch around Hamilton and the surrounds, flick us a message or pop in for advice. See you soon!