Why the neutral safety or range selector switch fails.. - Saab NG900 & OG9-3 Bulletin Board - Saabnet.com
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Why the neutral safety or range selector switch fails..
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Posted by REM in Seattle (more from REM in Seattle) on Mon, 27 Dec 2004 08:51:23 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Additional CGB question/observation..., jt, Mon, 27 Dec 2004 07:36:45
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The "neutral safety" or "range selector" switch is a series of sealed contacts in a housing that make and break contact as the automatic transmission gear selector is moved to different gear selections. Wires from this sealed contact housing (the thing we call range selector or neutral safety switch) go to the automatic transmission computer to let the computer know what gear has been selected.

As I understand it there may be a problem with the grease that was used to lubricate the contacts getting too thick in cold weather. Anyway the contacts fail to make proper connection in cold. This confuses the transmission computer and we get the "Check Gearbox" and "Check Engine" lights. The automatic transmission computer defaults to "limp home mode" to prevent transmission damage, which is to say that the transmission starts out in 3rd gear.

After the transmission warms up from being run, the grease gets thinner, and the contacts start making contact again. Thus the "Check Gearbox" and "Check engine" lights will reset the next time the car is shut-off for a period of time. Moving the gear selector through the entire gear range several times helps to redistribute the grease and temporarily fix the problem. However the problem will reoccurr, most commonly during cold weather.

The newer neutral safety or range selector switch has been redesigned and does not appear to suffer from the cold weather problem.

REM in Seattle
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible; 5-speed; 1000 miles
1998 Saab 900SET; 5-door; Automatic; 74,000 miles


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