Hoping to change my neutral switch over the coming weeks and was wondering if there's any best method ?

Sti so 6 Speed

Box Down ?

 

garage told me you can losen the gearbox mount enough to lower and get access although i never did end up getting mine done.

 

I did mine with it off as I was replacing the clutch but have heard it can be done without taking the box off if you've got ramp excess iyptll be easier, defo worth replacing if gone as it controls your Avcs

 

garage also told me you can fit washers to get it working again if its failing intermittently.

 

It's already got a washer fitted, but they say fit a thinner washer as the nipple of switch is plastic and will get worn over time so fitting a thinner washer will set it further down into the box.
(But, just incase it don't work and you done all that work, May aswell fit a new one incase and be done with it).

Yes you can fit on drive etc, I did mine on drive like a boss lol.
It's located right on top of the box in the tunnel and there's no way of getting to it without dropping box.
I just lowered the box by removing all mounts associated with it supported by a jack, enough to climb under the back of box near linkage area to squeeze my hand in to fit, bit of a bummer job to do but doable and I'm no pro, just like doing things on my own car myself.

Picture below just for reference exactly where switch is as you can get reverse switch mixed up.

 

Blue circle is nps

 

I'd personally stay away from any garage that tells you that kind of advice it's like putting a second hand clutch in after all the hard work and effort as bustamoves has said above get new bud

 

It does actually work tbh, as 9/10 there's nothing wrong with the switch, just the plastic nipple gets worn so just needs lowering a bit, but as said its a bit of wasted labour if it don't.
Iirc they only about £35 ish new.

 

its because they know subarus that they know this! but i guess your right about fitting a new one if your in there anyway. its as busta says the switch wears down as its plastic.

 

In my opinion if it's not 100% right it's 110% wrong bro... I always replace with new genuine parts but that's just me I do it right the first time round no messing or fookary

 

Cheers mate yes Andy F mentioned the washer trick but i have got a new one already.

Thanks for the pics.

 

Point is that a new one will wear the same again as its still plastic. So taking up the difference by removing material from the washer would actually be no different.

I just cba incase i didnt remove enough or something and had to do job twice.

I may mess around with washer if it happens again in my ownership

 

Tbf, when I removed mine there was no obvious meterial wear on old switch, might of been the actual switch mechanism.
Not sure on mileage of box as it was a conversion