Accessing the NSS Electrical Connections on a '91 (1 Viewer)

[MOB324]

All,

First, I'd like to thank all the experts here as I have used this form on almost a daily basis to address multiple issues with my '91 FJ80. This is the first time I have asked for help after exhausting my search on the forums, youtube, and the FSM.

Backstory: I have the intermittent no-start and no start click on my '91. When I shift from Park to Neutral using the shift override, I am able to start the truck 99% of the time with no issue. So far, I have replaced the battery (discovered during the process the truck didn't even have the right type of battery in it), and I also resolved a voltage drop issue by replacing the battery connection terminals and the positive and negative wires to the ground and the started from the started with thicker gauge welding wire as recommended here. The positive/negative leading from the battery and terminals were in sad shape and likely original. Both of these solutions helped, but I was still getting the intermittent no-start and click as described above. So I narrowed this down the Neutral Safety Switch, and decided to open it up and clean as recommended here: Clean Your Neutral Safety Switch A442F - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/clean-your-neutral-safety-switch-a442f.1019846/

I decided to remove the NSS from the side of the tranny without disconnecting the wire to clean it. I was only able to remove one of 5 screws, stripped the head out of two of the others, and decided it would be better at that point to remove the NSS all together from the truck or completely replace it with a new one. And here is the problem: Where does the wire connecting the NSS go and what is the easiest way to disconnect it on a 1991? It appears to go above the tranny, and I traced it with my hand as far as I can reach and unable to find the connections. I have read through multiple posts about the NSS but either the advice is referencing FJZ80 models with the NSS on the passenger side of the tranny and those asking about the 1991 do not get a clear answer from the forum. I attempted to remove the vanity cover from the shifter in the cab to see if I could access it and could not find it (broke three bolts in the process ).

As I see it, I have three options from here:

1. Reconnect the old NSS and just deal with the intermittent no start issue.
2. Override the NSS with a jumper wire as described in other posts.
3. Figure out (with your help) where the NSS connects, completely remove it from the truck, attempt to fix it or completely replace (this is my preferred course of action)

TLDR: How do I access the electrical connections on the NSS on a 1991 toyota land cruiser so I can remove it?

 

[MOB324]

I found this post: Neutral Safety Switch Pigtail Connection Location? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/neutral-safety-switch-pigtail-connection-location.1352903/

For the models referenced in this post (looks like a '93), they claim it can be accessed from the driver's side wheel well near the starter. That doesn't make sense for my '91 as the started can't be accessed from the driver's side. It's on the passenger side.

 

[jonheld]

Above the starter, passenger side along the firewall.
Harness runs over the transmission and terminates to 2 connectors. The smaller, circular one is the closure for P and N that allows the starter to crank. The larger rectangular one runs the dash cluster shift position lamps and reverse lamps.

 

[MOB324]

Above the starter, passenger side along the firewall.
Harness runs over the transmission and terminates to 2 connectors. The smaller, circular one is the closure for P and N that allows the starter to crank. The larger rectangular one runs the dash cluster shift position lamps and reverse lamps.

Thank you! Also, I wanted to personally thank you for the years (decades?) of advice you have provided on the 3FE 80. I have referenced your past posts and advice dozens of times so far.

For all those interested, here's a little bit more info on how I completed installation. It was a little frustrating trying to route the new NSS connectors back to the position on the wiring harness above the starter:

1. After removing the old NSS, I loosely mounted the new NSS on the driver's side of the transmission and routed the wire connection over the bell housing of the transmission so that the wire connections were hanging over the passenger side of the transmission.
2. I shimmied the wire toward the started on the passenger side by gentle rocking the two ends of the NSS back and forth similar to how you dry your back with a towel until the connections were near the bottom of the starter.
3. I used a screw driver to guide the connections above the starter. This gave me the ability to gently pull another inch of line to get it connected back to the wire harness.
4. I followed the procedure in the FSM to readjust the NSS.
5. Done!