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Neutral safety switch interface
Some vehicles combine the column shift mechanism and the mechanical neutral
safety switch into one mechanical part. In these vehicles, it is impossible to in-
terface the remote engine start system before the neutral safety switch. With this
type of vehicle, if the vehicle is left in a drive gear and the remote engine start
system is activated, the vehicle will move and may cause damage to persons
or property.
According to available information, vehicles known to be manufactured this
way are most General Motors trucks, sport utility vehicles and column shifting
passenger vehicles. Available information also indicates that pre-1996 Dodge
Dakota pickups with 2.5 liter motors are also manufactured this way.
GM vehicles that have the neutral safety switch built into the column shifter can
usually be identified by a purple starter wire. Typically, vehicles that use an
outboard mechanical switch use a yellow wire from the ignition switch to the
mechanical switch and a purple wire from the mechanical switch to the starter
itself. Remember, this is only a rule of thumb and is not intended as a substitute
for proper testing.
Important: Please see vehicle Safety Check section of this guide for testing
procedures.
Vehicles with the neutral safety switch built into the column shifter require that
the shifter be placed in park in order to remove the keys from the ignition. As
a result, it is possible to use the key-in-ignition sense switch to prevent remote
engine starting if the keys are in the ignition. (See General Motors Trucks, SUVs
and Column-Shifting Passenger Cars and Pre-1996 Dodge Dakota Pickups with
2.5 Liter Motors diagrams in this section on how to accomplish this.) The first
diagram applies to all General Motors vehicles as of the date of this guide’s
publication. The second diagram applies to all pre-1996 Dodge Dakota pickup
trucks with 2.5 liter motors. This solution has one side effect: If the customer
inserts the key in the ignition with the driver's door open, the remote engine
start system will shut down. If this interface is used, it is important to inform the
customer that the driver’s door must be closed before inserting the key into the
ignition when the remote engine start is active. This will allow the customer to
turn the key on and shut the remote engine start down by pressing the brake,