The 1996 Jeep Cherokee is available with either a three-speed or four-speed automatic transmission. Both transmissions use a neutral safety switch that prevents engine from starting unless the transmission is in Park or Neutral. Both of these switches include the backup light switch. Each transmission uses a different type of switch with a different replacement procedure.
Park the Cherokee on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Raise the front of the Cherokee with a jack and support with jack stands.
Place a drain pan under the neutral safety switch, which is located on the driver's side of the transmission, just above the transmission pan.
Pull the electrical connector off of the switch. Use a wrench to unscrew the switch. Remove the switch. Some transmission fluid will leak out of the hole where the switch screws in the transmission case. Catch it in the drain pan.
Screw the new switch into the transmission case and tighten it with a wrench. Plug the electrical connector into the new switch.
Raise the Cherokee, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground. Attempt to start the Cherokee with the transition in all gears to ensure that it only starts in Park and Neutral. If more than a few ounces of transmission fluid leaked out of the transmission, warm the engine to operating temperature and check your fluid level. Add transmission fluid if necessary.
Park, raise and support the Cherokee as in step one above. No drain pan is needed for this procedure. Place the shifter in Neutral.
Locate the neutral safety switch, mounted on the passenger's side of the transmission case. Squeeze the tab on the electrical connector and disconnect the switch from the wiring harness.
Use a slotted screwdriver to bend the lock-washer away from the attaching nut at the bottom of the switch. Use a wrench to remove the nut from the transmission valve shaft. Note that the shaft has a vertical and horizontal groove in it. The vertical groove, that points up and down, will be used to align the new switch. Use a wrench to remove the adjusting bolt. Pull the switch away from the transmission case.
Mount the new switch onto the transmission case. Thread the attaching nut onto the shaft, finger tight. Install the adjusting bolt, also finger tight. Use a torque wrench and socket to tighten the attaching nut to five foot-pounds.
Rotate the switch until the vertical line that is inscribed on the switch lines up with the vertical notch on the shaft. Use a torque wrench to tighten the adjusting bolt to nine foot-pounds. Use pliers to bend the lock-washer back against the side of the attaching nut.
Plug the electrical connector on the switch into the main harness. Raise Cherokee, remove the jack stands and lower it to the ground. Try to start with the shifter in all positions to ensure that it only starts Park and Neutral.
