Manual S13 Neutral Switch

[mrbean]

Hi,Finishing the install of a Clifford Matrix 3.5 to may manual '89 240sx hatch. I'm trying to rig up the neutral position sensor to the neutral safety switch that came with my alarm, so that the remote start won't activate unless the car's in neutral. According to the FSM, the neutral sensor has continuity only when the car is in the neutral position, meaning it's normally closed, but according to the ECU wiring diagram in the back, the neutral switch is normally open, meaning it DOESN'T have continuity in neutral. I've tried wiring it as both normally closed and open, and it seems the circuit is closed whether the car is in neutral or not.

Can anyone tell me how exactly the neutral sensor works?

Is it normally open or closed?

What causes it to sense whether the car is in gear or not? Does my foot have to be off the clutch while its in gear to trigger the sensor?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[s13sr20chris]

i dont have a 89 fsm handy but i can tell you how to be sure. get a multimeter. you can pick up a cheap($20) unit from radio shack and check the continuity in any condition you want.

[mrbean]

well, I've got the wire hooked up to the 85 postion in a relay, and whether I'm in gear or not, it always switches the 30 to the 87, so it seems like in any gear, its always closed.

[s13sr20chris]

85 is the coil side right? its a standard relay right? not one of those self holding relays? you may have a funky switch. i cant remember if the neutral switch is normally open or normally closed. same for the reverse switch. what i do remember is that they are exact opposites in that respect. are you sure your on the right switch?

[mrbean]

yup, just regular spdt automotive relay. I'm pretty sure I got the right wire. It's the green/orange wire going to the ecu, exactly according to the eccs wiring diagram at the back of the FSM. I'm beginning to think that its a busted switch... How would I go about replacing/repairing it?

[s13sr20chris]

rwd nissans have it screwed into the side of the trans. iirc the 240s are easy. the z32 is tough.

[mrbean]

Cool! Thanks for the quick response, Chris. Like your avatar and sig, BTW. Always nice to meet another Christian car nut!