by Josh Wayman
Torque Staff Writer
It doesn’t matter if you are about to drive out for a day on the trails or rushing to work, things do not get much worse than climbing in your Jeep, turning the key and nothing happens.
Of course, when that occurs then your mind jumps to all kinds of problems — dead batteries, temperamental starters, bad fuel pumps. All of those can prevent your engine from roaring to life.
But there is also a lesser-known culprit you should keep in mind — the neutral safety switch.
This switch is a very important part of your Jeep. It’s also known as the park neutral switch or inhibitor switch, and in vehicles with a manual transmission, the clutch safety switch.
The purpose of this switch is to prevent a vehicle from starting unless the transmission is in park or neutral (or unless the clutch pedal is depressed in manual vehicles). This ensures the vehicle never starts while its transmission is in gear, which can cause serious damage to your Jeep’s engine and transmission.
But when your neutral safety switch isn’t working properly, it can cause issues with your Jeep starting, or even worse, cause significant damage to your Jeep.
Here are some signs that it’s time to replace your neutral safety switch and what to do when it fails.
Your Check Engine Light is On
That little yellow or orange glow can be annoying, but the Check Engine Light is your Jeep’s way of asking for help.
Whenever it illuminates, you should check the code with an OBD-II scanner (if your vehicle’s model year is 1996 or later) or take it to your local auto parts store to have them pull the code.
The exact codes for a faulty neutral safety switch can vary depending on your year and model of Jeep, but generally P0850 is the OBDII code for this issue.
Your Jeep Won’t Start
If you turn the key and the engine doesn’t crank or make any noise at all — no cranking or clicking — but your lights and radio still fully power on, this is a big sign your neutral safety switch may have bit the dust.
Your Jeep Will Only Start in Park or in Neutral
When your neutral safety switch is working correctly, your Jeep should start in park and neutral. But if it only starts in one or another, then this is a very strong sign your neutral safety switch needs replacement.
Your Jeep Will Start in Any Gear
As mentioned earlier, your Jeep should only start in park or neutral. If you accidentally turn your key while your Jeep is still in gear and it starts, this is another significant sign your neutral safety switch has gone bad. In this case, do not delay replacing the switch, and do not try to start your Jeep while it is in gear to test if the switch has gone bad.
Your Neutral Safety Switch is Bad — Now What?
If your Jeep simply won’t start and you suspect your neutral safety switch is faulty, try shifting into neutral and turning the key. If this doesn’t work, alternate between park and neutral and try starting. It may not work, but it is a good way to diagnose your switch and possibly get your Jeep home if you’re stranded. By no means is this a repair and you should replace your neutral safety switch as soon as possible.
If you are stranded and alternating between park and neutral did not work, another option is to use a remote starter switch. No, not the kind on a key fob that you press to warm up your Jeep on a chilly winter day.
A remoter starter switch will connect your battery directly to the electrical terminal on your starter motor, bypassing the neutral safety switch entirely. However, this should only be performed if you are mechanically inclined and familiar with the positive and negative terminals on your battery and starter motor. If done incorrectly, you risk damaging your Jeep as well as potential personal injury.
These are both quick fixes and not long-term solutions. If you’ve determined your neutral safety switch is faulty, the best plan of action is replacement. And this is something that can be done in your driveway in a couple of hours.
The good news is these switches tend to last a long time, so once you’ve replaced your old one, it’s likely it will last for the life of your Jeep.
