1996 Ford Explorer........Where is the neutral safety switch located?

Question

I have a 1996 Ford Explorer XLT, All Wheel Drive, 5.0 Liter, V-8 and believe that the safety switch either needs adjusting or replaced.
It will not start when I turn the key. There is plenty of juice due to the lights are bright, all the gauges work and do not dim and it starts when I jump the solenoid with a screwdriver.
I already replaced the solenoid and it is still doing the same thing.
After researching this I think it is the neutral safety switch but I do not know where it is located.
PLEASE help..............

Answer 1

Your Park/Neutral safety switch is located on the left side of the tranny. Your shifter linkage is connected to the switch. Their is no adjustment on the switch and is most likely melted internally. You should also purchase both connectors (PIGTAIL HARNESS) that connects to it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Different manufacturers put them in different places on the transmission. Look in Chilton's Auto Repair manual at the public library. If Chilton's doesn't show it, try Haynes or Motors. I had that problem with an '86 Corolla. The illustration in the manual was extremely bad. It turned out the switch was on the transmission where the shift linkage attached. The text indicated where the switch was but i could not see it in the picture. A trip to the salvage yard led me to enlightenment. Also the new part costed $142- even at aftermarket shops which could special order it. The used part was $14 and worked perfectly. I got to see how to do the work at the salvage yard and came home to fix my own car.

Answer 3

Information about the neutral safety switch, location and pictures with instructions on replacement can be found here:

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0b/ac/f4/0900823d800bacf4.jsp

Answer 4

It's in a freakin' weird place! It's under the rug on the passenger side toward the front left side. You have to feel for it, and it's pretty far back!