Can't get floor shifter neutral safety switch adjusted correctly. Need help!!

[Jim S]

My car car will start in any gear.  I have adjusted the neutral saftey switch in every position known to man and can't get it to complete the start circuit in only P or N.  How do you adjust this thing?

Edited May 12, 2025 by Jim S

[Mel]

Is the switch possibly stuck internally?  Hopefully, you can disconnect the switch, put an ohmmeter on it and work the shifter.

Good luck.

[ronmanfredi]

On 5/10/2025 at 6:41 PM, Jim S said:

My car car will start in any gear.  I have adjusted the neutral saftey switch in every position known to man and can't get it to complete the start circuit in only P or N.  How do you adjust this thing?

The switch is most likely bad.  You can unplug it, connect an ohm meter to it and rotate it and see if the circuit works in every position (bad) or does work correctly.  If it works correctly then someone has bypassed it or the wiring harness has a problem.

[brad]

There should be a hole in the movable arm, and the mounting bracket. loosen the hold down bolts, and pit a drill or pin to line up the holes, then tighten the hold down bolts. That should in theory get you there.

[Jim S]

Thank you very much. I figured that out. Finally got it adjusted correctly.

[SCPO-PD]

On 5/13/2025 at 9:53 PM, brad said:

There should be a hole in the movable arm, and the mounting bracket. loosen the hold down bolts, and pit a drill or pin to line up the holes, then tighten the hold down bolts. That should in theory get you there.

Brad - Please forgive my ignorance but can you please give a little detail on this as I am struggling to "find" Neutral on the floor shift on RQB3616 in order to get the shift linkage properly aligned.  The position that I think is Neutral does not allow me to shift to D2 or D3....

[Adam DeRosa]

@SCPO-PD - I would suggest following the adjustment procedure in the Studebaker Avanti shop manual, and also check that the linkage is assembled correctly. If you can't get it adjusted to work properly, there is another solution. On Avanti II's with the GM Saginaw steering column, there's another Park/Neutral safety switch on the column that can be used. Look under the dash, on the top side of the steering column, right next to where the brake pedal hinges and you'll see a switch with six terminals. From the left, the first two are for the Park/Neutral safety switch, the middle two are for the reverse lights, and the last two on the right are for the seatbelt buzzer, You will of course have to move the wiring over from the switches under the shift lever.

[Jim S]

I appreciate the tip.  However on my car, the linkage that moves the lever on the steering collumn (from the transmision) is not there.  So the switch does not move.

[ronmanfredi]

On 5/4/2026 at 7:45 PM, SCPO-PD said:

Brad - Please forgive my ignorance but can you please give a little detail on this as I am struggling to "find" Neutral on the floor shift on RQB3616 in order to get the shift linkage properly aligned.  The position that I think is Neutral does not allow me to shift to D2 or D3....

I'd suggest the following on your car.  With the shifter in park, disconnect the shift linkage from the shifter from underneath the car.  Then move that linkage connected to the transmission to be sure it can be moved through all positions. If so, then put it back into park and then move it into reverse. Next go into the car and do the same exact thing.  Be sure the shifter goes through all of the positions. Go to park, then reverse.  Now under the car, loosen the linkage adjustment nuts and reinstall the linkage arm into the shifter.  Tighten the nuts evenly on both sides.  Go back into the car and test the shifter now.  IF there was a problem with either the shifter or transmission when you checked them independently, then you know where the problem is.  

Usually, the linkage adjustment can be done in Neutral but the shifter can slide into drive when you are working on it so I use reverse since it locks into place.

[ronmanfredi]

3 hours ago, Jim S said:

I appreciate the tip.  However on my car, the linkage that moves the lever on the steering collumn (from the transmision) is not there.  So the switch does not move.

Has your problem been solved?