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Melissa
10-09-2009, 03:28 PM
This is my first write up, plus my first time cleaning a NSS, but here goes anyways.

Tools needed are a 12mm socket, flat head screw driver, electrical cleaner, dielectric grease, and very fine sand paper ( I used 200 grit )

Locate your NSS, on my 93 it was on the left side of my tranny at the front.
This is the mess that greeted me when i located it

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/HPIM0897.jpg

First thing I did was to unplug the sensor from in the engine compartment and clip the two zip ties holding the NSS wires to other wires, I found the plug on the left, at the back of my valve cover, by the dip stick tube.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/HPIM0906.jpg

Next I crawled under and attacked the NSS

I used the 12mm socket to remove the top bolt, then I bent back the tabs on the lock washer behind the lower big nut. I found that the big nut was only finger tight, but this is how it should be (I was told). after I removed the big nut and lock washer, I found there to be a rubber gasket under the lock washer, don't lose this gasket, it's hard to see when everything is dirty, but it's there. After I had a this part done, I replaced the large nut a couple turns back on and used my flat head screw driver as leverage on the big nut to help pull the NSS off straight, do not twist off the NSS as it can damage it.

Once off, I had one very dirty NSS to deal with :eek:

In this picture, there is the NSS, the top bolt, big nut, lock washer, and rubber gasket.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/HPIM0901.jpg

Now the fun part :headshake:

Remove the six screws holding the part together, but be careful when you seperate the part, as the arm inside does have two spring loaded brass contacts that might want to take a leap for freedom, and they would be almost impossible to find again. After open here are some pics of the inside goodies.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6251.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6252.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6253.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6255.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6256.jpg

After tearing apart the inside I soaked all the pieces in electrical cleaner and then let them dry completely. I then used the 220 sand paper and sanded all the contacts, including the two brass ones from the arm.

Before

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6261.jpg

After

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6269.jpg

Oh...so pretty now :cheerleader:

So now that everything is all clean and pretty, I used the dielectric grease and gave everything a good smear with it.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/HPIM0903.jpg

Now, put all the pieces back in, put the two halves back on, and replace the six screws.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/HPIM0904.jpg

All thats left is to reinstall the NSS back on your rig the way you took it off and pug her back in.

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6275.jpg

http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww305/melreese83/Jeep/pict6276.jpg

Make sure your reverse lights are working, and that your jeep will only start in park or neutral, and wa la..................your good to go :driving::driving:

COSXJFAN
10-09-2009, 03:47 PM
Nice job Mel!!:thumbsup:

BlueXJ
10-09-2009, 06:48 PM
Excellent write-up!!!

DETOURS
10-10-2009, 09:25 PM
You are a dirty girl after all......:thumbsup:

BlueXJ
10-11-2009, 05:21 PM
You are a dirty girl after all......:thumbsup:


The very best kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

COSXJFAN
10-12-2009, 12:33 PM
WOW, Spanky got thanked for calling Mel a dirty girl!! I like Mel more and more every time I log on!! LOL!!:camera:

Mudderoy
10-12-2009, 12:42 PM
Yeah she's a hoot. :cheerleader:

Melissa
10-12-2009, 01:53 PM
:lmao: :thumbsup:

alwaysxj
10-12-2009, 05:07 PM
nice job. i needed to do this on my last heep but never got the chance to do it (sold it)
i was told that you will have a hard time getting them off that you will probably brake them getting them off.

did it come off pretty eaisy then?

Melissa
10-12-2009, 10:39 PM
nice job. i needed to do this on my last heep but never got the chance to do it (sold it)
i was told that you will have a hard time getting them off that you will probably brake them getting them off.

did it come off pretty eaisy then?

Surprisingly, it was pretty easy to get off. I was was just real careful in making sure I pulled it off straight and not twist it at all. The worst part of the whole thing was getting to the 2 zip ties above it and getting them cut, after that it went very smooth. It was well worth the time and effort.

NickM
10-17-2009, 08:11 PM
Thanks, Melissa. I went ahead and did this myself yesterday, and now I have reverse lights!
Yay!

Nick

BlueXJ
10-17-2009, 08:18 PM
I have pulled one off of one of my spare transmissions and taking it apart and cleaning it for a ready to go spare is Mondays project Mel. Thanks for your write-up. It is as good as I have ever seen on the NSS subject.

Melissa
10-17-2009, 09:03 PM
Thanks, Melissa. I went ahead and did this myself yesterday, and now I have reverse lights!
Yay!

Nick

That was the best part about it for me, having reverse lights again :driving:

I didn't even care that I had to clean it in the first place because my Jeep would not start, it was the reverse lights that made me the happiest :rotfl2:

Voldemort
10-18-2009, 01:06 AM
That was the best part about it for me, having reverse lights again :driving:

I didn't even care that I had to clean it in the first place because my Jeep would not start, it was the reverse lights that made me the happiest :rotfl2:

SO your xj did not start at all and after the cleaning it started fine?

muddeprived
10-18-2009, 08:20 AM
Excellent write-up. I saved this for the future. ;)

Melissa
10-18-2009, 04:42 PM
SO your xj did not start at all and after the cleaning it started fine?

Yes, I had been having issues with it for more than a year, sometimes it would start just fine, other times it would only start in neutral, but finally one day it would not fire at all in park or neutral, I tried unplugging the battery to reset the computer, but no go. I tried off and on for more than a day to get it to start with no luck.

I pulled the NSS, got it all clean, put it back on, and it fired right up. I really thought that since it quit on me all together, that I was going to have to replace the NSS, but nope, it's working great now.

jeeplasse
10-19-2009, 08:06 AM
Thank´s for your write-up and nice pics. This is one of the things I´ll have to take care of on my rig, since the reverse-lights are working a little on and off. I guess that this is what causes it.

cheap jeep
10-19-2009, 09:40 AM
Thanks Melissa. The back up lights on my XJ don't work,now I know how to repair.

COSXJFAN
10-21-2009, 12:43 PM
Yep, it's a very common problem with older, more experienced XJs!!

Jeep88
10-21-2009, 11:38 PM
does it work if you clean it

COSXJFAN
10-22-2009, 08:18 AM
Yes it does. The switch is very straight forward, and serviceable. Once cleaned up, like Mel did, it will work nicely for years!!

BlueXJ
10-22-2009, 10:16 AM
Many have trouble removing the switch but it can be done with patience and PB Blaster.

COSXJFAN
10-22-2009, 10:49 AM
I just loosened the collar clamp nut on the side, and used a large flat tipped screwdriver on the flange on the pan. It popped right off.

lifted1994xj
10-24-2009, 09:07 PM
Great write up! this was going to be my project for tommorow but its gonna snow like 3 inches here in colorado so maybe next weekend.

pkbinder
02-05-2010, 07:30 PM
Thank you so much for that write-up about cleaning your NSS. Mine was crapping out (no reverse lights and occasionally having to wrestle the shifter to start her), and I didn't want to spend the $250 on a new part and the couple hours my mechanic would charge me to install it (I don't wrench). So I forwarded your write up to my mechanic and it took him a little over an hour and I saved a ton of money. And he said the hardest part was cutting those damn zip-ties! Thanks again. Paul

BlueXJ
02-05-2010, 07:39 PM
That is a part of what xjtalk is all about Paul. I didn't do the writeup but she will be happy it helped someone.

Melissa
02-07-2010, 01:47 AM
Thank you so much for that write-up about cleaning your NSS. Mine was crapping out (no reverse lights and occasionally having to wrestle the shifter to start her), and I didn't want to spend the $250 on a new part and the couple hours my mechanic would charge me to install it (I don't wrench). So I forwarded your write up to my mechanic and it took him a little over an hour and I saved a ton of money. And he said the hardest part was cutting those damn zip-ties! Thanks again. Paul

:rotfl2::rotfl2: Yup...... the zip ties were the hardest part for me as well :)

XJ408
11-09-2010, 02:54 PM
THIS POST WAS LIFE SAVER AND MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET.....THANKS:smiley-scared002:

Mudderoy
11-09-2010, 02:57 PM
THIS POST WAS LIFE SAVER AND MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET.....THANKS:smiley-scared002:

Good! This is what we like to hear! Thanks for sharing it with us. :patriot:

bluedragon436
11-09-2010, 08:43 PM
Awesome writeup.. Will def. have to keep this in mind... Might even pick myself up a spare NSS and clean it up using this DIY... so I will have a good spare..

KH96XJ
04-02-2011, 04:53 PM
Thanks for the write up. I found this very useful when I cleaned mine, even though the backup lights only worked for two weeks for me afterwards. Only thing I would add is to tie some string to the plug so you can pull it back up easy when you reinstall it.

modestmar00xj
04-02-2011, 09:58 PM
nice! good work!

crashmcwhly
04-04-2011, 07:28 PM
Great write up! Just bought my first XJ two days ago and yup, no reverse lights. Well, thx 2 u, now they work. Thumbs Up!

sanrico
02-04-2012, 06:38 PM
To Melissa,

I just wanted to give a heartfelt thank you for such an excellent post and those great pictures. I know when you are under the Cherokee and there is greasy dirty falling everywhere, the last thing you might want to do is stop your job and take pictures so you can explain it to everyone. So I thank you for your excellent work and helpful attitude.

Posts like this are what make an excellent forum. I'm a member of many forums from home repair to Jeeping, and they vary in quality and helpfulness. Glad to be part of XJTalk. I look forward to learning more!

Thatsmydawg
11-03-2012, 12:00 AM
Mine doesn't start either. I don't have reverse lights either, but I try running it threw the gears while I hold te key down. It doesn't start when it's cold I don't have spark or fuel. Might be something else though. Nice write up thanks

4.3LXJ
11-03-2012, 12:27 AM
I think your neutral safety switch on the tranny is not working. You might try to remove it carefully and clean it. They are expensive to replace.

bluedragon436
11-04-2012, 06:57 AM
Mine doesn't start either. I don't have reverse lights either, but I try running it threw the gears while I hold te key down. It doesn't start when it's cold I don't have spark or fuel. Might be something else though. Nice write up thanks

I would definately say try carefully removing and cleaning the NSS just as said above, and if that doesn't work, you might look at your Crank Position Sensor.

jrrfig
07-15-2013, 10:34 PM
All I can say is WOW! My 98 XJ starts GREAT! And all for under 10.00 and about an hour labor.:bacondance:
Thanks guys.

92warwagon
12-13-2013, 01:52 AM
very cool I bet my wife would like it she doesnt have to wiggle it just a little bit. nice write- in hte todo list for sure...

dagod16
08-21-2016, 08:17 PM
Does a 2001 xj have one of these switches.

I can't stop working on my jeep, help!

bluedragon436
08-28-2016, 03:14 AM
Does a 2001 xj have one of these switches.

I can't stop working on my jeep, help!

Yes, they all have the annoying to work on NSS.. Not too bad to change out if you got a bit of time and don't mind finagling a bit..