All vehicles with an automatic transmission have a neutral safety switch as a safety feature. This component is also called a transmission range sensor or a gear selector switch. This switch ensures that the car can only start when it is in park or neutral. If the neutral safety switch detects that the vehicle is in a different gear, it interrupts the power to the starter circuit. This prevents the car from starting. This prevents the car from starting in gear and lurching forward upon starting.
Transmission control module fault
Over time, the neutral safety switch can become defective. This allows the car to be started in a gear other than park or neutral. This can lead to dangerous situations. It is therefore advisable to replace a defective neutral safety switch on time. You can recognise a defective switch by the following symptoms:
- The engine of the car starts while it is in drive or reverse
- The car starts in neutral, but not in park
- The car won't start at all
Replacing the transmission control module
Replacing the neutral safety switch is a job you can do yourself. We recommend wearing protective clothing during the work. You will be working near the transmission, so there is a good chance you will get transmission fluid on your clothes. In addition, we also recommend wearing protective gloves and safety glasses. In the following eight steps, we will explain how to replace the neutral safety switch yourself:
1. Park your car on a level and hard surface.
2. Open the bonnet and disconnect the battery. To do this, remove the negative terminal of the battery to switch off the power.
3. Use a car jack to jack up the car. We also recommend using axle stands so that the vehicle remains stable.
4. Then locate the sensor. You will find this part on the side of the transmission. If you cannot find the sensor, consult the service manual for your vehicle.
5. Remove the sensor by loosening the mounting bolts with a flat-blade screwdriver. Then clean the area of the old sensor.
6. Place the new sensor in the same place and secure it with the mounting bolts.
7. Remove the axle stands and lower the car again.
8. Finally, reconnect the battery.
Buying a transmission control module
You can buy a neutral safety switch quickly and easily at Winparts. Enter your registration number on the website so we can show you the parts that fit your vehicle. You can choose from top brands such as FEBI and Vemo. Are you looking for other switches? Also take a look at our clutch switches, temperature switches and reversing light switches.