Turn the key and nothing

[zukdj]

Thanks for your input, anyone else have anymore ideas? Would the neutral safety switch make #85 lose ground? I have noticed a slight transmission leak, would a bad NSS leak transmission fluid? The leak has been there for a while but I haven't got around to checking that out yet. The van always ran fine and this was very sudden.

[zukdj]

I looked and I cannot find the neutral safety switch, does anyone know where it is located on this vehicle? Does it definitely have a NSS?

[tempfixit]

Look at the picture on this site it may help you:

http://www.robskorner.org/faqs/Trans...ans33.html#93v

[zukdj]

Unfortunately my 2002 Town & Country uses a different type of neutral safety switch, I cannot find an exploded view of my model van. Mine is a 3.8L limited model, the switch doesn't screw into the transmission case as in other models, just my luck. If anyone looks at this and reads back though the entries and thinks they can help me I'd be grateful.

Under the starter relay when I used a testlight at post #86,it lights the test light when I turn the ignition ket to start as it should. There is no ground at post #85 and I was told there should be a ground at that location, I suspect this is the culprit. Where do I go from here? I realize I may have reposted this in the thread a few times but I really need to stress the issue so I am clear. The dealer said I have the 4 speed tansmission which doesn't have a neutral safety switch.

[KManiac]

Every automatic transmission has a neutral safety switch. Without one, you would be able to crank your starter when the transmission was in any gear, like D or R, and that would not be safe. Now the service manual for my Volvo calls this the "starter inhibitor switch". But no matter what it is called, it is designed to prevent starter engagement when the automatic transmission is in any gear other than Park or Neutral. If the switch fails safe, then the starter won't engage in any gear, including P and N.

Any mechanic who says your automatic transmission doesn't have a neutral safety switch is an IDIOT and should be ignored. Time to find a smart mechanic.

I have read posts in this forum that have stated that the NSS and reverse light switch are one in the same, meaning that it allows the starter to engage when the selector is in P or N, and turns on the reverse lights when the selector is in R. But I am not familiar with the location or wiring arrangement on the modern vans.

These switches have been known to fail safe. I have seen more than one person replace perfectly good starters, solenoids and relays multiple times only to find later, after much money and time wasted, that this switch was culprit all along.

Note: Some cars have this switch screwed into the side of the transmission case, some have them mounted inside the transmission pan, some have them attached to the steering column and others are attached to the gear shifter mechanism. I have no idea where yours is mounted, but it is there, someplace.

[zukdj]

I called the dealer and they said the 3 speed transmission automatic has a NSS but the 4 speed automatic does not, it isn't even listed in the part book.

[locksafe8151]

I'm no professional mechanic but I do know a little about keys. You might contact a locksmith and see if they would check the programming of your "transponder" key. Your control module may have dropped the information out therefore not allowing power to the starter. Did you say you have tried other keys and if you did do they have the chip in the head of the key?

[RIP]

Originally Posted by zukdj

I called the dealer and they said the 3 speed transmission automatic has a NSS but the 4 speed automatic does not, it isn't even listed in the part book.

Er...well...yes and no. It may be called a "Transmission Range Selector" or TRS switch. Here's one on a generation 3 van (scroll to 41TE transmission) : http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...rInfoPages.htm Chrysler made it a jack of all trades switch and true to form made it a pain in the ass to change.

Guess we have to stop using the generic term for the switch. The guy at the counter should have known what you meant. Course the parts guys aren't usually the brightest bulbs at dealerships.

[jpb53]

your van has a TRS( transmission range sensor) as you look down at the trans from above it is just to the right of the solenoid pack. I thas a 10 way connector. It incorporates 4 different switches for gear selection; plus a trans temp sensor. It is hard to diagnose without a scan tool. You need to see the switch inputs for each gear selected. You can start the van if you want. Have someone sit in the van with parking brake on and foot on brake pedal. Jump the relay like I told you in aprevious post. Van should start. You can try and drive it at slow speed to see how it reacts. I would check the main harness from the tran and it's routing to see if you can see any areas where the harness has rubbed and possibly shorted a wire. Also check for possible battery acid damage. Chrysler engineers have been very stupid about routing wiring harnesses under and near batteries. Good Luck John

[zukdj]

Thanks, tonight we towed it to my friends Volvo repair shop. He is going to check it out. I will post the resolution if we find it.

[tempfixit]

Would this be the part your looking for:
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=401&PTSet=A

[jpb53]

That's a TRS; a neutral safety switch is a 3 pin switch.Don't know about the quality at that price. Sometimes cheap parts can compound the problem.You install a part that is no better than the one you took out; thinking it is good and you start looking elsewhere.

[zukdj]

There is no ground at post #85 and I was told there should be a ground at that location, I suspect this is the culprit. Is it possible that this switch is causing the problem of no ground at post #85? In an earlier post it was said this is a ground to the PCM. I just want to have all my ducks in a row, I'm working with a friend to troubleshoot the problem, the good part is I live in NY and its cold outside, now I have a warm garage with a lift to work in.

[jpb53]

The ground on 85 is supplied by the PCM. It is a safety feature. The starter can't be engaged when the engine is running. The TRS sensor supplies different switch states to the computer based on the position of the shifter. If your friend has a good scanner and Alldata or Mitchell he can get the proper diagnostics for your problem.

[studdly]

If the chip in the key isnt working right, i have an idea, try resetting the vans computer by unhooking the battery for about 5 minutes and hook it up and try again. If this doesnt work then its dealer time....