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Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) won't come off.

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Old 02-04-2015, 07:31 PM
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Default Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) won't come off.

failed at trying to swap my NSS today. Got the new (to me) one rebuilt, but now I can't get the old one off the trans. Both the bolt and the nut are out but it seems like its seized on the little rod. Soaked it with PB Blaster for tonight, trying again in the morning.

anyone have a similar issue? i tried prying at it with a small pry bar, but it won't budge. If I can't get it fixed in a day or two I'm going to have to bypass it temporarily, since I'm moving out of state and the XJ is scheduled to go on a trailer soon.

Old 02-04-2015, 07:39 PM
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Its press-fit so you need to pull it straight off. PB Blaster can help break it loose. A small puller might help too.

Put anti-seize on the shaft when you install the new one.
Old 02-04-2015, 08:08 PM
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I had similar issues. I tried pb blasting, heat, multiple techniques posted on here, nothing would work. I tried on several occasions. I ended up just breaking it off and buying a new remake on ebay for $50
Old 02-04-2015, 08:10 PM
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Any risk of bending, breaking, damaging anything in that area as I try to get it off?
Old 02-04-2015, 08:19 PM
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I believe the trans lines run right by there, just keep a look out for hose if prying at it or anything. I don't know if you can bend the shaft or anything. I didn't and I really had to pry at it from alot of angles to even get the broken pieces off.
Old 02-05-2015, 11:15 AM
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dont have time to deal with the stuck NSS, since the XJ is getting picked up by a car carrier for our cross country move.

something something necessity something something innovation.

Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) won't come off.-fvank3p.jpg

should hold better than a paperclip, so I can fix this on the other side.
Old 02-05-2015, 12:18 PM
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Mine wouldn't budge either, broke it off and bought a cheap ebay one. Haven't put it on yet, been driving with it bypassed for a while now. Not fun to work on the jeep outside when it's in the 20's.
Old 02-05-2015, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by noisufnoc
Any risk of bending, breaking, damaging anything in that area as I try to get it off?
Using a pry bar etc., you need to lean it against the transmission pan for leverage. The edge of mine started to bend so I eased off and the NSS itself ended breaking. Just be careful you don't damage the pan.
Old 02-05-2015, 12:26 PM
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I had this "Canned". Haven't done it myself.

NSS REMOVAL


There are "tricks" for removing the NSS without wrecking it. I guess if you can wedge behind it, then tap IN on the shaft you might tease it off. One poster mentioned using wood. I'd think if it was wood, very hard wood would help getting a "crisp" tap on the shaft.
Old 02-05-2015, 12:28 PM
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Had the same issue with mine last year and the pry bar wouldnt budge it. What I did was I soaked it daily for a week with PB Blaster. After a week I climbed up under here and using wooden shims and a rubber mallet I worked it off. It took about 15 minutes and a few shims but I finally worked it off.
Old 02-05-2015, 12:30 PM
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I still think a three-jaw light puller would probably work well, you need thin teeth to get behind the edge is the thing
Old 02-05-2015, 03:55 PM
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all good suggestions here, i'll give it a frequent pb soak later on and try the wedges
Old 02-05-2015, 04:42 PM
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Try a barbecue fork
Old 02-05-2015, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by ehall
I still think a three-jaw light puller would probably work well, you need thin teeth to get behind the edge is the thing
Originally Posted by ehall
Try a barbecue fork
Again I haven't done it. It looks unlikely a puller would fit up there. I'd think wedging it out and then rapping in on the shaft would involve a tapered wedgdge, the lateral play in the shaft can't be much. (Rap. tighten, rap, tighten....Done that on something else....or maybe i waz dreaming...
Old 02-06-2015, 11:07 AM
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popped the CHECK ENGINE last night from my fix. I dont remember the codes, tried to reset them with my phone but they came right back. Good thing I don't need a smog for a while :-)


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