Kevin in Atlanta

From reading here it looked like I need to replace the neutral/gear selector switch at the transmission.

So, I did and it still starts in gear.

Is there a relay at play here? Starter relay?

Kevin

Mrmerlin

what was the last thing you fixed?
This answer ^^^could be where you need to look

The Forgotten On

That sounds like the switch has definitely gone bad.

Kevin in Atlanta

Car came to me with the issue. Wasn't aware of until the car moved forward - it was quite the surprise.

Already replaced the switch.

The Forgotten On

Have you tested the wiring for a short? Could be that.

soontobered84

Where did you get the neutral safety switch? It could possibly be the wrong one. There Porsche ones and there are Mercedes ones. Both fit.

Kevin in Atlanta

From Porsche. Made by Mercedes.

Part numbers match.

dr bob

There's a starter relay that depends on the neutral safety switch for coil ground. Make sure there's a relay there. 5spd cars have a jumper. if it has a relay, start at the connector in the spare wheel well to see if the switch is working, then the circuit to the relay to see if it's grounded.

76FJ55

you may also want to double check to see that you got the switch are seated correctly in the shifter arm. when I got my 86.5 it had the same issue as well as nonworking reverse lights. ended up with the switch arm misaligned when the PO had it replaced. Do your reverse lights function correctly?

Kevin in Atlanta

No reverse lights, but the PRND32 lights work properly.

After finding a disconnected ground and terminated wires in the spare tire well there's no telling what the PO's mechanic did.

76FJ55

In that case the switch and gear position arms are connected correctly. I'd be very suspicious of those wire that have been modified in the spare tire well. the switch on the trans normally makes contact through the started safety switch to ground for starting or through the reverse switch to ground for back up lights. I'm suspicious that they missed that ground so the switch no longer had a ground path to make the connection so the bridged the starter safety in the spare tire well.

Mrmerlin

Based on this info I would suggest that you get the WSM out and identify the ground wire/s that were removed ,
this should be pretty easy as you can test where the other ground wires go and this will lead you to the ones that are missing.
NOTE as the missing wires will tie into the same ground point as the ones still there, use the WSM to see this.

Next figure out what the blue wires are for, also check the transmission for errant wires .

Next check the CE panel and verify you have a relay in the kickdown position. and its the correct relay.
You could also post a picture of the CE panel to help us see what your seeing.

Kevin in Atlanta

Those wires are for manual transmission equipped care for my reading of the WSM. Why they are present on an automatic bewilders me.

I do need some help tracing the cut grounds. You suggest the WSM. Could you offer a simple way - tracing grounds is black art to me.

I'm going to dig in to the CE panel in the morning.

Mrmerlin

OK in the WSM you know where the ground point is in the tire well,
so find this point on the WD then see the ground wires that go to this point,
trace out the wires that are remaining on this lug,
use the WSM to see where they go,
you should be able to find the component thats not wired to the particular ground point.
Does this help you ?
I hope so

Kevin in Atlanta

Pulled the starter relay and doesn't start - that's good. replaced the relay with another known good one and it continues to start in all gears.

Next on to the relay block. I'm expecting the relay is constantly getting ground therefore sending power to the starter.

The journey continues.