Neutral Position Sensor / Gear Shift Position Sensor (Vehicles equipped with an 5.0L engine)

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The transmission neutral position sensor is bolted to the transmission housing and detects the position of a magnet mounted on the gear selector shaft. The neutral position sensor provides 3 PWM (pulse width modulation) output signals. The TR_NEUTRAL_RAW and TR_NTRL_RAW2 signals both indicate the gear selector shaft axial position and if the selected gear is odd, even, or neutral. The two separate signals provide redundancy to ensure safe detection of the gear engagement status. The GEAR_SHIFT_C_DC signal indicates shaft rotation and which shift fork is selected.The PCM (Power Control Module) interprets these signals to determine the selected gear. The PCM PID GEARPOS_MAN indicates the selected gear as NEUTRAL, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7(for Reverse). As a rationality check, the PCM compares the selected gear detected to the calculated transmission gear ratio using vehicle and engine speed when the clutch pedal is fully released. The sensor data is used for several vehicle features and functions including rev matching, reverse camera activation, reverse parking aid, hill start assist, and reverse lamps.

To achieve the required accuracy for the safe operation of these features the sensors need to be programmed to the characteristics of each individual magnet on the gear selector shaft.Once programmed, it is not possible to reprogram or otherwise adjust a sensor.The sensor and magnet must always be installed together as a matched pair.