Neutral Switch

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petridish38
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Neutral Switch

Post by petridish38 »

This may be a stupid question, but what purpose does the neutral switch serve on my 5-spd MT FWD? I can understand an AT or maybe even a MT AWD. But what is the switch informing that the tranny is in neutral and what does that change?

I'm not having any problems, i'm just curious.
1990 Legacy LS Sedan FWD NA MT
209,000 miles!
2002 Impreza WRX Sport Wagon
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mTk
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Post by mTk »

It's so the car won't start while in gear, i think. er, though i

MK
1992 BC672 AWD 5MT
vrg3
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Post by vrg3 »

On a 5MT the neutral switch has nothing to do with cranking the engine; the clutch safety switch plays that role.

The neutral switch signal goes to the ECU. I don't know what it does with the information, but it definitely does something. I know that sometimes when I'm coasting to a stop in gear with the clutch disengaged the engine speed stays around 1000rpm and then when I get out of gear (put the stick in neutral) they drop down to the normal idle speed.
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THAWA
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Post by THAWA »

I think I read somewhere that it had soemthing to do with cruise control as well.
Rio Red 90 Legacy LS AWD 174k
Liquid Silver 92 SVX LS-L 88k
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petridish38
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Post by petridish38 »

yeah....cruise control would make sense since you can't engage it when you're in neutral
1990 Legacy LS Sedan FWD NA MT
209,000 miles!
2002 Impreza WRX Sport Wagon
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