'81 K20 Neutral saftey switch on steering column

[GSP7]

81 K20 Neutral safety switch on steering column, automatic trans:

Will a bad neutral safety switch, located on the steering column, cause the ignition switch to not work?
Sometimes turn the key and nothing, Push the column auto trans shifter against 'park' position and ignition will turn over starter.

Or put in neutral position and it will turn over.

I thought it might be my ignition switch mounted on the column , but it seems the neutral safety switch is the issue.


Neutral safety switch will only allow ignition switch to work if your in park or neutral. I have to jiggle the column shift arm or push it against the park position stop to get the ignition to work and crank the starter

Is the neutral safety switch wired to the ign. switch?

Anyone have this issue and replace the neutral safety switch and problem solved

thanks Rick

PS I just had my steering column bolts off and column pulled down to inspect the ign switch and mess around looking for the fix. I think the 'neutral safety' switch is worn out, not the 'ign switch'

[Liberty]

Neutral Safety stops you from starting in Drive or Reverse.

It could be going out. OR in my case, the pewter linkage connecting the ignition actuator rod to the key cylinder was cracked causing hard starts like that.

When it started getting really bad (before it totally snapped) I had to jiggle the column and bury the key into start to get it to crank.

Occasionally shifting into neutral would make starting easier.

All that being said, I had my safety switch removed a few years ago when my starting system shorted out. So they CAN be bypassed and that would eliminate your problem if the switch is going bad. And yes it is connected to the ign switch somehow, I'm not sure as I didn't personally remove it.

[GSP7]

Well I pulled the safety switch, blew it out cleaned it and lubricated it.

By by-passed it with a paper clip in the plug... ignition works every time when by-passed, so its the neutral switch is the problem

Re installed cleaned up switch and you can adjust it on the steering column then tighten the screws

Its worn inside Im sure... Ill buy a new chinese one, $12.00 at auto zone

The switch also activates the back up lights. It has two wire plugs , one for back up lights, one to the ignition switch