Quick help/input needed- on side of the road

[73TXRallye440]

Ok, had new stereo system put in yesterday, installer goes to start car, won't turn over. So I have him install a new battery. I drive it home no problem. I get in today, drive 45 mins, no issues. I pull over to get gas, go to start and nothing. I checked battery connections, they are good. Dome light and seat buzzer still work, but not even a click when I go to turn it over. Wife is on the way with cables, but when I get home, would you start at wire connecvtions or at the alternator? Thanks for the help in advance.

[Chris G.]

Get a hammer and whack the starter.

[73TXRallye440]

Aye, good thought, let me go try and find one.....

[Ghoste]

Neutral safety switch is hooked up right?  Every now and again mine will come off at the trans and I have to reach under there and shove the connector back onto the terminal.

[73TXRallye440]

I'm a newb in that arena, what is a neutral safety switch? I just had the tranny pulled last week for the new torque converter to be installed and I had to take it back b/c they forgot to hook the speedo cable back up. Where would I find that switch on the 727 if icrawl under there?

[Ghoste]

Not very far from where the speedo cable goes in.  Look for a wire with a round connector about 3/4 inch in diameter hooked to the side of the trans ahead of the speedo cable and behind the shift levers.

[73TXRallye440]

Ugh, either I'm too big or it is sitting awkward but I can't reach it under there to feel around. This sucks. Tried jumping it and that did nothing, wife going home to get big industrial battery charger, if that doesn't work will have to get it towed. I tried jumping it off her tahoe but the new tahoes have these stupid monkey connectors where u can't get a good bite on the posts.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Starter is pretty big...cant miss it...smack away!

[73TXRallye440]

Well problem with starter is its a mini starter and behind the header and I can get a hard/clean smack at it, just enough room with the limited clearance to tap it, not smack it

[Charger-Bodie]

Starter Relay?

[slamooo]

If this is your 73 charger, short across the starter relay to see if it will turn over.

[lisiecki1]

your neutral switch will have 3 wires on it also.....did you try to start it in neutral instead of park?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Well problem with starter is its a mini starter and behind the header and I can get a hard/clean smack at it, just enough room with the limited clearance to tap it, not smack it

Now that's a horse of a different color!   

[73TXRallye440]

Ok, I've tapped the starter, that didn't work, all wires are connected, no avail, got a crowd of people here trying to diagnose it and still won't turn over, got my brother coming up here with his farm trailer and gonna load it up on the trailer with some come alongs. Oh, last effort ill try and start it in neutral.......

[73TXRallye440]

Hot damn that was it!!!! Put it in neutral and fired right up!!!!! Kick ass!!! Owe you a six pack, what's your favorite? Thanks a million.

[Charger_Fan]

Sounds like the stereo guy must have bumped your neutral switch out of adjustment.

[73TXRallye440]

Just got home. Thanks to everyone that gave input, I really appreciate it.

Now that it is home- where do I look to fix that neutral switch? How do I fix it exactly? Someone above said look near the speedo cable input on the tranny, which side of the tranny is that?

[tan top]

   its got a three wire plug going to it   ..arrowed in green  ..not sure how third generations are wired ..but check the conections at the other end also  , up on the fire wall

[73ChargerSE]

On a third gen, the NSS wiring is located in the bottom left (looking at it from the engine bay) corner the bulkhead on the firewall.  There should be 4 wires, one is for the blower motor and the other three are the NSS wires that go to the transmission.  Could be a bad neutral safety switch itself in the transmission.

Hope this helps!
Paul

[73TXRallye440]

hey thanks guys. Where can I order a new neutral safety switch? 

[73ChargerSE]

You can get a new switch at almost any parts stores.  The harness, if it is bad, you can get from Year One.

[73TXRallye440]

You can get a new switch at almost any parts stores.  The harness, if it is bad, you can get from Year One.

thanks for your help. So the switch is just called a neutral switch? Im on year one's site now, what exactly is that harness called?

[joflaig]

FWIW I had the same problem and they ended up soddering the wires so it will never come out again. In my case the wires came close to the exhaust too so they put some heat shielding around the wires as well.

[73TXRallye440]

so can someone explain to me (learning here) what the function of that switch is exactly and how it works and why we need it? Would I need this if I had a TREMEC TKO 5 speed transmission?

[Ghoste]

The neutral safety switch exists to make sure you don't start the car in gear.  You wouldn't HAVE to have it on a Tremec but you might want it.  On a manual trans though, it is more typically found as a safety switch on the clutch pedal.

[Green71R/T]

Before you buy anything make sure shift linkage is properly adjusted.If it starts in neutral but not park the switch & wiring are most likely OK.You stated that you had trans work done and this may be related.If your car is  not completely in park it could roll and it may not start.

[RallyeMike]

Before you buy anything make sure shift linkage is properly adjusted.If it starts in neutral but not park the switch & wiring are most likely OK.You stated that you had trans work done and this may be related.If your car is  not completely in park it could roll and it may not start.

I agree that 95% chance this is the problem. It's probably just barely out of adjustment. Try holding the lever hard up against the detent in park and starting. Bet it fires right up. Start with the simple stuff first.

[mikepmcs]

On another note if you replace the NSS doesn't it need to be shimmed or something.  I leave mine unplugged because it runs the reverse lights in drive when plugged in.  Was told the off the shelf NSS will cause this if not shimmed properly. Is this true or what.

v/r
Mike

[tommymac]

Mine does that also,sometimes have to shift to neutrel or then back to park and it starts,not a big problem in my book. sort or a theft deterrent.

[lisiecki1]

Hot damn that was it!!!! Put it in neutral and fired right up!!!!! Kick ass!!! Owe you a six pack, what's your favorite? Thanks a million.

miller lite......but you can keep the beer....send car parts! hahahaha  glad i could help you out....

[1969chargerrtse]

  its got a three wire plug going to it   ..arrowed in green  ..not sure how third generations are wired ..but check the conections at the other end also  , up on the fire wall

Wow, what a clean underside.