Safety(?) switch on tranny

[Hammerhead1st]

Ok, after searching through 30 pages of back posts, I haven't found anything related to my problem.

My 96 is having a problem with starting, but it's not in the starting circuit at all. It's actually in the sensor mounted on the side of the tranny where the cable and linkage go though. The electrical plug on the back of the sensor is picking up mixed signals and causing a no-start situation, also, if I keep the plug securely pushed in, it will cause my starter to engage when I put it into park. Sounds wierd, I know, but if i unplug the unit, turn on the key, and bump the solenoid, it fires right up and runs as if nothin's wrong. Here's my problem...

I'm not actually sure what the unit on the tranny is called. Is it the reverse/neutral safety switch? Or is it some type of positioning sensor? Called local Advanced Auto, they had no clue what I wanted a price for w/o the proper name for it. So can someone tell me what it's called? Might sound like a stupid question, but this forum has answered all of my other questions w/o the need to repost the same ol' thing over and over...

[Hammerhead1st]

Found out...my dilemma was caused by the NEUTRAL SAFETY/BACKUP switch, cost 53.95 including shipping from Parts America.com, will be here Thursday since I opted for regular ground service. Also, my switch is the 12-pin model. The other model, for use on the 4r70w was $63 plus shipping. My 96 sports the 4r55e tranny, and the funny thing is, wherever I looked up the part for it, all they listed was the 4r70w.

[B33p3r]

Thanks for the info! I wish everyone came back and posted the final solution.

[Hammerhead1st]

Yeah, I thought the solution was more interseting than the problem...heh heh heh