Neutral position switch
 

Have been advised by a well known mapper that there is a fault on my neutral position switch. In his experience he suggests closing it instead of replacing it with a new one. This to me suggests it isn't a necessary component.

Has anyone else permanently closed/bypassed the switch?

Interestingg?

I replaced mine on my 2001 bugeye last year and its gone again, just waiting to get it replaced again under warranty.

Whats happens when you run without one then?

RR

Paul @ Zen also found this on my 03 car during the remap. He slipped a paper clip across the two terminals and the plug was put back together.
I fitted a s/hand unit not long after - its only a 10 minute job on ramps.

Nick

Nick,

What did the paper do to the car, ie how did it run and did it map ok?

RR

This is why I'm really looking for some feedback as to whether anyone has experience of this problem. I don't want to keep returning the car for a new switch every five minutes. I need the car on the road everyday - time is money with me.

Does a paperclip solution open the switch or close it? My guess is it fools the ecu into thinking you are always in gear. How does this affect the short term and long term running of the car?

Have a look at http://206.13.93.15/STi_Stuff/STi_Ma...%20Harness.pdf

During the remap, the switch was randomly triggering that the g/box was in neutral (i.e. pins 1 & 3 had < 1 Ohm resistance).
I assume the clip was placed across pins 1 & 3 so there was no chance of getting a very low (ie no connection) resistance.
I've got no idea what part the switch plays in the ECU and whether it affects engine running, but the wiring diagram shows it as part of the OBD2 port wiring.

Mine seems a bit erratic according to my FC Commander readout. What would be the effect of this?

it could give you the misfire fault code and also a fault code to do with the idle speed can't remember what no. exactly though

On the vvt sti's it'll play havoc with the cam control, other than that I think it's cel light related (misfire)

Andy

Well what it seems to do is that it shows up as neutral when it's actually in neutral but it when you put it in gear it doesn't always switch off. In any gear you can give the gearstick a back and forth wiggle and it will toggle the neutral switch on and off whilst still definitely in gear.

The duff one I pulled out showed resistances all over the place just by wobbling the switch.

Nick

What tools did you need and do you lose gearbox oil when the switch comes out?

Driver or passenger side of gearbox?

Thanks

Its toward the back of the box, passenger side.
I had the car on ramps and took it off with a spanner with no oil loss.

Nick

Thanks Nick

I'm resurrecting this thread as I still have the problem. The very nice people at Carnetix tested my switch yesterday and my Neutral Position Switch is faulty [as previously diagnosed by mapper on laptop], testing as permanently open circuit.

To replace/bypass the switch on a JDM Sti version 7/8 is a pain as it is on the top of the gearbox not the side.

I'm not getting a CEL light and it's not causing any noticeable loss in performance it's just one of those pain-in-the-ass things you know is there but not sure what to do about it.

If I replace it then it isn't guaranteed to not fail again. But bypassing it seems to be an option. Has anyone out there bypassed their switch? How did you do it?

Does anyone have a source for a switch [other than Subaru] and how much are they?

Xtreme Scoobies £43 delivered for a 04STi.

This problem occured on my old 02 STI when Richard Bulmer was mapping it.
The switch was bypassed and the ecu was reset but I kept getting cel lights and a huge loss in performance. I got a new switch from Prosport for about £32 and after it was fitted and the ecu was reset the performance of the car was transformed and I got no more cels.

Interesting, cos it was Richard that told me that the switch was faulty and he suggested bypassing it. I don't get a CEL light and there is no noticeable drop in performance. However, I've ordered a new one from Xtreme Scoobies. There are two types, one has a long lead, so you'll need your VIN number when you order [unless you know which one you want].

I'll get the nice guys and girls at Carnetix to swop it for me.

Just need to add thanks to Becky and Glenn at CARNETIX for sorting this problem out for me. Top team.

Also probably needs pointing out that on a six speed box the switch is positioned on the top of the gearbox, so the gearbox needs dropping down slightly to access it. I don't think this is the case with a five speed box though. This is also why the six speed NP Switch has a longer lead that a five speed NP Switch.