neutral safety switch

[rjgricius1]

I. have a 230sl, auto trans. Since the engine was reinstalled the reverse lights. never worked. I have determined that  when my lever is in park the NSS is reading as if it is neutral. Hence it will start. The shift lever works as it should. After removing the pop on fitting from the NSS, I can move the switch lever down to the park, and then to revers (lights work). The problem is the wire cable appears to be too long.
When I move the lever all the way to park the wire cable kinks? I have adjusted the barrel fitting on the firewall so that the barrel is a low as it will go. The cable is still too long. If the pop on fitting was an inch and half shorter I think the switch would work. Am I missing something? I have the threaded cover for the cable screwed all the way both at the barrel and at the fitting on the trans.

[rjgricius1]

As I said in my post, if the barrel fitting (ie linkage) was shorter the cable would work. The cable that I had came from Bud's and I was assured it was correct. However, with the assistance from another member of the forum we replaced the fitting that connected to the NSS with a throttle linkage fitting that was a inch and a quarter shorter. Bingo, when the shift was is in the park car startered, in reverse back up lights worked and car would now start in neutral. I am surprised that o other member of the forum has had a similar experience.

[Desertpagoda]

So it was an correct part?

[rjgricius1]

After speaking with a very helpful mechanic at Bud's, this is what is was told. At some point Mercedes changed the bracket that holds the NSS to the firewall. That barcet allows for the switch to be adjusted up and down, this allows the cable tension to be adjusted, effectively shorting making the cable shorter. Earlier cars had the NSS in a fixed position on the firewall thus the cable that is now sold will not work unless the barrel fitting that attaches to the NSS is changed to a much shorter throttle barrel with the pop fitting. Interesting in that Bud's, also, sells the barrel fitting for the cable separate from the cable for $98. This long version will not work on the early cars.