95 voyager starts rarely

[skartdo]

I can only start my van when the shifter is in exactly the right place. just over the p in park or the n in neutral.

last few times not even then. Sometimes when I give it a shove and move it a bit it will turn over and start.

When I turn the key I hear something go into action. It is not the engine trying to turn over. The starter trying to start? after that when I turn the key from the start position I hear a click.

fortunately I'm close enough to walk my kids to school but they don't like doing that in the winter.

the lights and gauges are working and do activate when I turn the key.

Any thoughts?

[yogi_123rd]

I think a loose,worn, or faulty Neutral Safety Switch is your problem.

It explains both the no-start case and the clicking noise case (Noise comes from the starter). That switch is on the transmission at the end of the gear shift cable. It disables the starter circuit when you are NOT in Park or neutral.

[skartdo]

thanks. The clicking noise is only when it is at Park or Neutral not when anywhere else, then I get nothing.

[yogi_123rd]

I think its clicking because of a poor contact in that switch. Its making contact (to send power to the starter - causing the click of the starter engaging) but dropping out (not starting the car and disengaging the starter.). I would expect wiggling the gear shift up or down a bit causes it to either not start at all or start right up. I don't think you have two seperate problems of a bad switch and a bad starter.