My switch is off and makes contact between neutral and drive, I can't find any where in the manual proper instructions for

adjusting the switch, it just states adjust the switch.

Can anyone help ? , don't feel it's a safe situation to start it the way it is now.

Also not a mechanic so if this is a redundant question, everybody has to learn somehow!

Claim to fame is the car was used as an extra in the movie Diner with Micky Rourke, Steve Gootenburg, Paul Riser and Kevin Bacon.

Just had a look at my Fordomatic adjustment section in the shop manual.There are 2 screws that hold the switch to the bracket on steering column lower.Loosen screws and position gearshift selector in the neutral position.The switch can be moved 7 degrees in either direction beause it has a slot in its bracket.You may have to try it in a couple of positions before you get the right position where it will only start in neutral.By the way you can use a switch from a 58 Ford with Fordomatic which will start in park and neutral.Same switch just has extra position  on it.I changed my 56 over to that setup.

  

To add to what Mark has said:  An ohm meter for checking for continuity at the switch connectors while the shifter is in neutral is also an option.  There are also contacts on the same switch for the backup lights so watch that you don’t use those for setting the neutral position.  Looking at a column I have sitting here, loosening up the two nuts on the U bolt affair may also net some additional adjustment if you can’t get to where you need by loosening up the 5/16” headed screws.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks guys!

Claim to fame is the car was used as an extra in the movie Diner with Micky Rourke, Steve Gootenburg, Paul Riser and Kevin Bacon.

Hello all,

This is the most recent post I can find on a fordomatic neutral shut off switch, so I want to ask a few questions. I have a '56 country sedan station wagon and Im in the process of switching out the old, leaky fordomatic for a brand spankin new mustang z-spec t5. I've got it just about ready to go, and I remembered another one of my hold ups: The old neutral switch is still wired in, hanging by the four wires attached to it, but the column shifter was removed long ago, and I have no way to tell where neutral is located on the switch. I want to do away with this switch all together, and I'd like some help understanding how to re-wire around this switch.

I read in another post that the backup lights run through this switch as well. There are four wires running into the the switch, two connected by spade connectors, and two connected by a round connector. I know for sure that one of the round connectors runs all the way to the back of the car - must be the lights - other round connector runs through the firewall and appears to run to a connector by the heater, splits to two wires and disappears again. The two spade connectors both run through the firewall, and Im having trouble locating where they go, but I would imagine one goes to the ignition switch and one goes to the light switch - the combination circuit breaker & light switch.

I thought I could take some time with a continuity tester and solve the problem, but I reached a mental block and just started confusing myself. How do I wire the ignition switch to the headlight switch (which happens to be where the starter relay is wired off of) so that I can remove the neutral switch entirely? I don't mind doing away with backup lights, but I want to make sure all hot wires are removed - there is already plenty of old wires ready to fray at a moments notice, I don't need another hot wire floating around in the wind.

Id appreciate any help you may have - at the end of the day I will probably be able to break the mental block, but its always nice to be able to share the burden! Ill make sure to post pictures and a description of the process when the project is done.

Ced

On a standard trans equipped car the wires for starting the car simply plug together when the switch is not used.The backup lights are run by a switch on the transmission if its a standard.You may or may not get the backup lights working with that transmission.

  

The T5 z has both a neutral safety switch and a back up light switch. You can simply re-route the wires. Without seeing the connectors and/or a wiring diagram, I can't help with the wiring.


Lawrenceville, GA

On the neutral safety switch the wires that have the spade lugs on them are the ignition wires for starting the engine and if you want to bypass the switch simply connect the two wires together. If you do this, be careful the engine will start in any gear!! The two wires with the round lugs are for the back-up lights. This assumes the wiring is original. 

Great, thanks for your help guys - taking out the switch today. The extra guidance is much appreciated! I'll let you know how it goes...

Ced