96 Windstar start problem

I have a 96 Windstar that occasionally won't start. It has a new battery and alternator.
what is happening is somtimes it will not start in the park position. If i shift to nuetral it then fires right up. All guages radio etc all work during this process just when turning the key there is nothing...no cranking trying to turn over.

Very strange. i am thinking it is a relay or computer problem somewhere. But I have no idea where to start.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks
B

I'd be looking at the TRS sensor (aka neutral safety switch). If you get zero starter when you turn the key this is the sensor that fails. A pretty easy change. It could also be your starter as sometimes they get a "flat spot" and won't start, but later will but if you literally slip into N and the van starts I'd be looking closely at the TRS.

Piper

Where is this sensor located?

The TRS can be found on the top of the trans. in the engine compartment. The shifter cable has a yellow connector where it attaches to a lever. This lever is connected to a rod that passes through the TRS. The TRS is flat, black, plastic, maybe 3/4" thick, and sort of round looking, maybe 4" or so. It has a plug with wires coming out. Look a little to the left of an imaginary line between the air cleaner and master cylinder, down on top of the trans.

ken - sittin here on the group w bench.

Perfect....easy and inexpensive. That's what i like. I'll change it out later this week and hopefully it will be fixed.

thanks!

How does the neutral safety switch come out....is it threaded in?

Just a couple of bolts, as I recall. Easy, once you get to it. There are a few things in the way. Do you have a repair manual? Try doing a search for TRS, I think you'll find a lot of good info.


ken - sittin here on the group w bench

on the TRS on my 2000 there are 2 bolts that attach to the trans block. Undoing them (you'd think) should allow the TRS to be lifted off the shaft. (This is of course after you've detached the shift selector from the shaft as well. It's a small nut. I'd leave the cable and plastic clip attached as one and remove the nut from the TRS end. The plastic outrigger on the selector cable looks impossible to take apart and reassemble without something breaking) What happened to my TRS was that the plastic had fused to the metal shaft from the trans. I had to destroy the the old TRS in order to get it off. Once off, I shined the shaft up with some emery cloth and put a drop or 2 of PB blaster on it to help the new TRS slide on. The tolerance between the shaft and plastic ring inside the TRS has got to be close to zero. There likely will be no way your TRS will come off nicely. There are also 2 keyways on the shaft that fit into the TRS which increase surface area and hold/move the TRS as the van shifts from PRNDL. As I said earlier, this info is accurate for a 2000. I understand the 96's looked pretty similar though.

Piper