[fozzy19]

I recently had the transmission replaced. Along with the transmission replacement, I had two of the plugs that plug into the transmission replaced. The van has run fine with no issues for about 2 weeks. Today as I was driving I noticed that the light on the instrument panel that indicates what gear you are in started to flash and turn off and on intermittently. I was told that this indicates that there is an issue of communication between the computer and the transmission. I have also heard that this can have something to do with the neutral safey switch. I have also heard that because of the location of the wiring on the transmission pan that the constant exposure to moisture from wet roads can cause the wiring to fail, thus creating the issue I am experiencing.

I'm looking for ideas on how to resolve this issue.

All ideas are appreciated, Thanks!!

 

[Leeann_93]

You need to visually inspect the plugs on the transmission - are they seated properly, is there any dirt/corrosion inside them that would keep them from fully connecting, etc. Clean them and put some dielectric grease in, then reattach the plug.

Next, visually inspect the wiring going to those plugs. Are there any chafed areas? Any kinks?

Also, have you talked to the shop that did the replacement? Normally, the parts and labor are warranted for at least 30 days (and hopefully longer).

 

[Matrixx]

Hi fozzy19
Leeann_93 brought up some good points to check. If the work was done recently, then I would take it back and have them look at it. In most cases it's the NSS switch itself that goes faulty and you gave the reasons why in your original post. What I do now after my second NSS replacement, is use Die-Electric grease on the plug ends and rubber seals and spray WD40 on the outside harness to help protect it from the elements. Hope this helps.

 

[astro355]

Hi fozzy19
Leeann_93 brought up some good points to check. If the work was done recently, then I would take it back and have them look at it. In most cases it's the NSS switch itself that goes faulty and you gave the reasons why in your original post. What I do now after my second NSS replacement, is use Die-Electric grease on the plug ends and rubber seals and spray WD40 on the outside harness to help protect it from the elements. Hope this helps.

Yeah, what he said. Anytime you pay someone to do work and then something happens involving the work that you had do, always take it back to where the work was done asap. Its always easier for the place that did the work to figure out what happened as opposed to a different shop that would spend most of its time 'checking up'.

 

[fozzy19]

Ok, here's where the plot thickens. I had plugs replaced at the dealership. They told me at the time that they would be replacing the plugs and that the problem with my trans would be solved. I went to pick up my Safari and drove off the lot and the problem had not been corrected. I turned around and went right back and they ended up refunding me my money. Since then, the transmission has been replaced and now runs, but I started to experience these issues yesterday and I experienced these same issues with the shift indicator light before my old trans went bad. So I don't have a warranty on those plugs so I guess I'll go with option "B" and inspect them and add the dielectric grease and spray with WD40. My only question is if I unplug these plugs to inspect, is there a certain procedure I should follow, or can you simply unplug, inspect, and then just plug back in?

 

[astro355]

How much time are we talking about since it was last worked on and the problems arose again?

 

[fozzy19]

About a month since the dealership did the plug replacement. The problem is that I had a out-of-work mechanic swap the transmission for me out of his garage. So if I take it back to the dealership they will claim that this other guy I had swap the trans could have caused the issue. Plus they refunded me my money and I'm willing to bet that they won't want to spend time looking at it when they haven't made any money on the job.

 

[astro355]

How much time as passed since the out-of-work mechanic swapped out the trans?

 

[fozzy19]

About 2-3 weeks.

 

[astro355]

The reason I said to take it back to whoever did the work last was not because of any warranty. It will be far easier to have the last mechanic work on it because he knows what was done last to the van and hopefully the work will still be fresh in his head. Hopefully, if he is a stand-up guy, he'll look at it again without any problems.

 

[Matrixx]

Hi fozzy19
I would agree with what astro355 says, take it back to the mechanic that did the transmission and plug-in change (I don't understand why the plug-ins were changed). It's only been 2-3 weeks. Changing the plug-ins adds a whole host of possibilities here, normally I would say replace the NSS switch and be done with it because that is the root cause for this problem you now have, but the plug-ins being replaced for what ever reason may thicken this plot even more (maybe not, but you need to find out).

That's why everyone here is suggesting to you to take it back to the person that did that particular work on it 2 or 3 weeks ago. I might be misunderstanding your comments fozzy19 and if I am, please disregard this post. Were all hoping you can get this resolved and start enjoying your van that's all. It can be a bit stressful when problems like yours arise. The very first time I had the dancing shifter light (that's what I call it, hehe) was in the middle of a snow storm, -10 outside and plowing through a foot of snow with no other vehicle on the road blazing my own trail down the Fraser Canyon. It's so dark and baron in that area, you can turn the lights off and not even see your hand in front of your face when you try to.

That's the time The dancing light decided to play the 2 foot shuffle with mine, and being the first time I had ever seen this happen, kind of surprised me at first. I didn't know if I should pull over and do an Exorcism on it or continue driving. I went into my trouble shooting mode, did my usual on the fly checks and everything seemed to be operating correctly so I chose to continue driving. Out of all the places this could have happened, it decided to do it on one of the worst nights I had driven in (weather wise), the shift cable even froze in place on that trip as well, hehe.
Ramble Off.

 

[CDGsafari98]

Ok so I hope people are still reading this thread as it is a little older. I am having the same dancing shifter light issue. I put the shifter in park and the light is on 3, in reverse and the light is correct, in neutral and the light is on 3, in drive no light, in 3 the light is on 3, in 2 no light, in 1 the light is on 1. Ok so my question is where are these plugs that i nee to visually inspect?

And wow this is frustrating, makes you second guess driving it at all. And it is my daily driver. Just in case it matters i am reffering to my 2000 awd van

 

[Matrixx]

Hi CDGsafari98

The most common cause is the NSS Switch for that type of problem, yes. I gave a comment to:HagensborgViking a while back for just about the same issues you have now. Here is a copy of it, and this would apply to you as well if you choose to replace it.

The NSS (Neutral Safety Switch) itself is located on the driver side transmission. Their are a couple of things you need to know if you decide to this yourself, is to work on the plug-ins first. They can be a problem as GMs sealant used from the factory has been known to bond the plug-ins in place when heated. If this has occurred to yours, then you need to apply a source of heat to them (should be 2 plug-ins) to loosen them up enough to unplug them. Caution here, is just enough heat (not a direct flame) to loosen them up, not damage them (Hair dryer, or heat gun (from a distance)).

The next one is to make sure you hook the linkage up the same way it came off. If you hook it up the wrong way then the transmission won't shift into gears properly. This happened to me when I did my engine replacement (tired) and the sounds it gave off when selecting gears was gawd awful. Once I hooked the linkage up correctly, everything was fine and back to normal.

I apply a small amount of grease to the Manual Shaft which makes the new switch a bit easier to install. I also use Die-Electric grease on the plug-ins and seals to make that a bit easier to install as well and it helps prevent corrosion.

One last thing which I do on a regular bases, is to spray the outside wiring and shift cable at the NSS switch down with WD40. This keeps things lubricated and protected from the elements.

Here is link on the procedures for a 1996 model year. Yours "should" be the same as that, if not, let me know and I'll look it up at another source (but it should be):

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/09 ... oPages.htm

PS: Just checked the books for your 2000 AWD, the switch and re & re procedures are the same as the 1996 information at autozone.

Hope this helps CDGsafari98. Please keep us updated, Thanks.

 

[CDGsafari98]

Matrixx thats great info I will need some time to get under there and have a look, at the moment winter is hanging around, sucks really. I will post an update and pics(if I remember) after I check this out

 

[Matrixx]

Hi CDGsafari98

You might want to replace it pretty quickly CD. This really messes with the computer when it's getting random readings like that, the dancing lights are confusing it. Hope this helps.

 

[CDGsafari98]

It helps and I was going to ask what might the ramifications be, but alos it is cold here and that looks ike a fairly complicated job so i may need a true mechaninc to do it. Thanks. this post was very helpful.

 

[CDGsafari98]

the shop i deal charged me 100 bucks and they got it done in a couple of hours. they even managed to save the plug! running fine since! thanks for the tips Matrixx