No start and auto tranny quit at same time

[spamdeleter]

I have a 96 with 2.2 and 3spd auto. 125k. While my daughter was driving/accerating on the interstate the tranny started acting like it was slipping and motor reving higher. She pulled off the road and tried re-driving again but drive or reverse gears no longer working. Also after turning off the switch it wouldn't turn over. I can't understand the 2 problems being related but also happening at the same time either. For the start problem I checked all fuses and voltage to the solenoid terminal. No voltage to the wire with the key in start position. I can bypass it crossing to the battery terminal with a screwdriver and it starts and runs fine. I tried adjusting and checking the connections on the neutral switch but no luck. Is there another location I can try? Where does the start wire go to from the starter? Too much tape and covers on the harness to trace. For the tranny I pulled off the pan and it was fairly clean with minimal deposits, no metal pieces, and filter ok. Changed filter and added new oil but nothing. Even with the frontend on jackstands the wheels won't turn in any gear or hear it trying to turn. There is resistance in park so I don't believe theres a broken shaft and there hasn't been a gradual slipping problem to indicate clutch band wear. I'm assuming the pump may have quit but why the no start unless there is some electronic unit tying it togethor. ECU maybe? Tranny shop said it would be about $900-1100 to overhauul tranny and parts place $60 for a neutral switch. I hate to do it because it runs good but I will donate or part out the car before I put that kinda money back into it. Any help/advise would be appreciated before I send it to the boneyard. Thanks, David

[public]

Check your shifter linkage. It may not be all the way in gear, and this also goes to your neutral safety switch. This will not allow the car to start if the switch thinks it is still in gear. This would explain both problems. Good Luck.

[spamdeleter]

Thanks for the responce but I had looked at it and it seems to be working ok. I tried removing the cable and then the switch which I moved manually to see if it any adjustment would let it start but no luck. I also ran the linkage from L1 to Reverse and no tranny movement but did see that the selecter was moving. Any other ideas to try?

[public]

Check the lockout on the ignition switch. There is a cable to prevent you from putting the key in the "Lock" position while it is in gear. This also attaches to the Neutral Safety Switch.

The wiring from the starter goes to the ignition switch. I feel that the ignition switch or the Neutral Safety are the problem.

[spamdeleter]

Thanks, I'll check it out more in depth tomorrow. Maybe I can find a used neutral switch in the junkyard to test it out. May fix the start issue but I don't know how it would tie into the tranny not wanting to run into any gear. It will go from D to R and not make a sound or move a tire. Would be nice if it was some kind of external relay to the pump or torque convertor solinoids tieing into the switch but I'm not familier with front wheel drive or the electronic circutry. I bought a trans manual for it but it wasn't any help on that aspect. Makes me appreciate even more the simplicity of my late 60's other cars.

[lexxxx]

or like on my old car the shifter sliped like when my car was in park it was in revers or when it was in revers it was in neutral the shifter was of by one gear at all times had to take the cover of just to put back in park

[spamdeleter]

Finally got it to start. Apparently there is a recall on switches going bad because if its held in the start position too long the heat damages the switch. Chevy puts in a relay to fix it. Anyway, changed the ign. switch and starts ok but still have nothing in the tranny--motor just revs in any gear. Has anyone ran into a torque convertor going bad and cause this?