Wont Start in Park Will Start in Drive

[2000DodgeNeon01]

So my Neon will not start while it is in PARK. If its in NUETRAL Im able to start the Neon and drive it. Any ideas what could be the problem?

Thanks in advance.

2000 Dodge Neon

[denisond3]

My Noen is a 97, so may be a little different from yours. But there has to be a switch on/in the transmission called the 'neutral safety switch'. Its job is let the starter work when the tranny is in park or neutral. If the shifter cable is out of adjustment, it could be the shift lever says you are in park, but the 'neutral safety switch' isnt closed because the shifter cable is out of adjustment. The 'shifter cable' adjustment on mine isnt hard to do - once the battery and the battery tray and a few other things are out of the way!
Try wiggling the shift lever in park, and see if that lets it start; its one sign the shifter cable is out of adjustment, or that the switch is just going bad.

[2000DodgeNeon01]

Thanks. I have a park/neutral switch on order and should be replacing it this sunday. I'll let you know if it worked.

[2000DodgeNeon01]

I replaced the Neutral/Start position switch and that didn't fix the problem. I guess my next try will be checking the shifter adjustment.

[ikeyballz]

hmm.. thats weird. the nss should have solved the problme..i cant think of anything else that wouldnt let it start in p, but start in N..