74 Dart 318 Neutral Safety Switch?

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mrwilson

mrwilson

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74 Dart 318 auto trans. Battery is charged. Headlights and dome light work. Put the key in the ignition and turn it, nothing. No dash lights, no engine crank, nothing. Could this be the neutral safety switch? If so, where is that located and how do I replace it? Thanks for any help.
Mark
 
Nope if no lights check your fusable links or battery cables for corrosion.
 
Yes, it could very well be the neutral safety switch. In 1974 it is located on the transmission and grounds the starter relay which is located on the left inner fender. Try starting your car in neutral instead of park.
 
mopardude62 said:
Yes, it could very well be the neutral safety switch. In 1974 it is located on the transmission and grounds the starter relay which is located on the left inner fender. Try starting your car in neutral instead of park.
Click to expand...
And try jumping the relay also
 
mopardude62 said:
Yes, it could very well be the neutral safety switch. In 1974 it is located on the transmission and grounds the starter relay which is located on the left inner fender. Try starting your car in neutral instead of park.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the quick reply. For the past few months occasionally it wouldn’t start in park but would in neutral. Now it doesn’t start in either. I’ll pick up a switch and try it. Thanks for the help.
 
If it starts it is the NSS is bad. Make sure you get the right one there are three different ones.
Dash light threw me off.
 
If the OP is describing accurately, some of you need to learn to read more carefully. He says he has "no dash lights."

So do you mean dash ILLUMINATION lamps (on with tail or head?) or do you mean WARNING LAMPS?

What DOES (or does not) come on with key in "run" position? How about accessory?

You may or may not have a problem with power supply TO the ignition switch, or you may have a switch problem

All jumpering the relay proves is that the starter operates. It proves nothing about the condition of the NSS, the starter relay, or the wiring

THIS IS A 74?? Could be SEAT BELT INTERLOCK

Find this thing under the hood and permanently splice the two yellow wires together

16kx4d2.jpg


100_0894-jpg.jpg
 
67Dart273 said:
If the OP is describing accurately, some of you need to learn to read more carefully. He says he has "no dash lights."

So do you mean dash ILLUMINATION lamps (on with tail or head?) or do you mean WARNING LAMPS?

What DOES (or does not) come on with key in "run" position? How about accessory?

You may or may not have a problem with power supply TO the ignition switch, or you may have a switch problem

All jumpering the relay proves is that the starter operates. It proves nothing about the condition of the NSS, the starter relay, or the wiring

THIS IS A 74?? Could be SEAT BELT INTERLOCK

Find this thing under the hood and permanently splice the two yellow wires together

View attachment 1715202757

View attachment 1715202758
Click to expand...
Great info here from one of the best on this site for troubleshooting electrical gremlins..............
 
67Dart273 said:
If the OP is describing accurately, some of you need to learn to read more carefully. He says he has "no dash lights."

So do you mean dash ILLUMINATION lamps (on with tail or head?) or do you mean WARNING LAMPS?

What DOES (or does not) come on with key in "run" position? How about accessory?

You may or may not have a problem with power supply TO the ignition switch, or you may have a switch problem

All jumpering the relay proves is that the starter operates. It proves nothing about the condition of the NSS, the starter relay, or the wiring

THIS IS A 74?? Could be SEAT BELT INTERLOCK

Find this thing under the hood and permanently splice the two yellow wires together

View attachment 1715202757

View attachment 1715202758
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for the reply. You are definitely knowledgeable on this stuff. Here’s what I have. What works: headlights, dome light, dash light, tail lights, brake lights
What doesn’t work: oil light, turn signals, radio, reverse lights,
I found that thing under the hood and spliced the two yellow wires together. No change.
 
I would access the ignition switch connector and start there. Check for voltage on both sides of the switch, and "wiggle" test the connector. Most everything you say doesn't work goes through the ignition switch

I don't believe ANY of that is fused "before" the switch, except for the fuse link, and then you would not have headlights. BUT 74 may be different..............

I THOUGHT I had made a (poor quality) scan of the 74 wiring, but don't see it. You can download an aftermarket wiring diagram from MyMopar, and the 73 shop manual from the same site. THERE ARE differences in the 74--73
 
OP. Found I made a "damn poor" scan of the '74 wiring diagram. Can you receive a 10mb file? Shoot me a PM and I'll email it to you.
 
You can test the neutral start switch by following the diagram below. This shows the starter relay mounted on the inside left fender. If you ground the lug shown in the picture the engine should crank. If you jumper this connector to ground, the car will start in any gear! PLEASE be careful!

11_starter_relay_detail1b.jpg
 
mopardude62 said:
You can test the neutral start switch by following the diagram below. This shows the starter relay mounted on the inside left fender. If you ground the lug shown in the picture the engine should crank. If you jumper this connector to ground, the car will start in any gear! PLEASE be careful!

View attachment 1715203200
Click to expand...

You want to be careful going by that physical layout. The wires are often reversed. Go by "where they go." The yellowish "start" wire comes from the key you do NOT want to ground that. The wire you want goes down over the top of the transmission to the NSS
 
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