Wiring diagram 88 Cabbie, neutral safety switch...

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

PeterD - 27 Aug 2008 14:06 GMT

I'm seeing an occasional problem with what I think is the neutral
safety switch (automatic transmission) on my 88 Cabrolet. Every once
in a while it won't start. Sometimes (not always) moving the shifter
will help, the other day I almost got stuck when the shifter moving
trick failed.

Checked my Bently manual, and... crap, they don't have the 88's
neutral safety switch diagram! Does anyone have a diagram of this
circuit?

Best I can tell, there is no stater relay (there is in later years)
but that is not 100% clear.

I suppose the next question is has anyone see a heat soak starter
problem where the starter won't do anything if hot? Each time it
failed to start the car had been sitting for only a few minutes and so
the engine was hot.

(When it fails to start there is *no* sound from the starter, no
click, nothing at all. Some drop on the voltmeter. The battery is at
the end of its life, and I'll replace it, but I think there is another
problem as well.)

Reply to this Message

SFC - 28 Aug 2008 09:19 GMT

My guess will be the ignition switch.......

SFC

> I'm seeing an occasional problem with what I think is the neutral
> safety switch (automatic transmission) on my 88 Cabrolet. Every once
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> the end of its life, and I'll replace it, but I think there is another
> problem as well.)

Reply to this Message

PeterD - 28 Aug 2008 14:00 GMT

>> I'm seeing an occasional problem with what I think is the neutral
>> safety switch (automatic transmission) on my 88 Cabrolet. Every once
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
>SFC

Possible... My push the shifter trick that sometimes works did require
that I use my left hand for the key, so I would have been turning the
key differently.

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 28 Aug 2008 18:49 GMT

Electrical resistance can occur at the battery, in the wire terminals, at
the switches and the starter.

Just lift up the Driving Range Indicator plate under the Auto Trans Selector
Handle.
You should see the Neutral Safety and Reverse Light Switch that is held on
by 2 screws. Remove the screws and lift up the switch. Not sure if you
need to remove the wires to see how the contacts look.
At least I think that this is how to get to yours.

Cleaning them with some very fine sandpaper/emery cloth and some alcohol,
the non-consumable kind, should help. Also make sure that the contacts can
still move freely and the springs are still good.

They still should sell them at rockauto.com if you need one! ;-)
picture here
http://info.rockauto.com/getimage/getimage.php?imagekey=1190109&imageurl=http%3A
//info.rockauto.com/Airtex/1S8193.jpg

You can temporarily bypass it for testing purposes too!

Signature

later,
(One out of many daves)

>>> I'm seeing an occasional problem with what I think is the neutral
>>> safety switch (automatic transmission) on my 88 Cabrolet. Every once
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> that I use my left hand for the key, so I would have been turning the
> key differently.

Reply to this Message

PeterD - 28 Aug 2008 22:12 GMT

>Electrical resistance can occur at the battery, in the wire terminals, at
>the switches and the starter.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
>You can temporarily bypass it for testing purposes too!

Familiar with the switch (fortunately) and how to get at it. I will
clean it up this weekend when I work on the car. I realized I have a
remote starter on this car, so I can use the wire in it to bypass the
ignition switch if I need to test the switch. I'll wire a pushbutton
to keep in the car for the next time it fails. Sadly this is an
intermittant problem, so most things will be check/clean and hope that
fixes it.

Reply to this Message