No start in Park

[Mike M]

My Marauder doesn't start in Park, I must put it in neutral (started after my TC was installed) I assumed it was an out of adjustment Park/Neutral switch but I bought a new one just to be sure. Today I installed the new one (neutral mark on switch aligned with hash mark and shifter in neutral) and guess what...MY CAR DOESN'T START IN PARK!!!!!!!
Before I start getting jiggy here here with tracing wiring etc., does anyone have a clue?????
Thanks

[MarauderMike]

Is there anything in the way to keep the shifter from going fully into park?

[Cobra25]

Their is a good chance your Neutral Safety switch went bad. That would be my guess.

[Mike M]

As I said...I replaced the switch today.

As far as not going into park all the way..I am starting to think the same thing myself. I am going adjust the cable to trans linkage adjustment now....we will see in a few minutes. They may have messed with this adjustment.

Another wierd thing about this. After tightening the 2 bolts that attach the neutral saftey switch, the shifter is alot harder to move through the range.

ARGH!!!!

[Cobra25]

Sorry about that I didn't read your post correctly. Good luck with it.

[blackf0rk]

You might need to replace the enitre marauder - see if that works. One of my lightbulbs went out, and instead of tracing down what bulb to buy, I just reaplced my marauder. Light works fine now... ;)

Seriously though, that sucks. I don't see why it would work in N, and not in P.

[TripleTransAm]

Take apart your console and see if there's any sliced harness in there. My MM#2 has a warranty visit in its OASIS log pertaining to a short in that area, although I don't know the details. From the wiring diagrams, the P and N positions should do the same thing when it comes to providing the PCM and starter relay with the right signal.

Yank the gage pod first: with the parking brake set and the wheels blocked (in other words, use your head), slide the shifter to something other than Park. Massage the pod by holding both sides and pulling straight out, once it pops loose, you'll need to twist it up so it clears the shifter bezel. With the pod out, I believe it's a matter of pulling up on the flat center surface of the console by the open end (exposed by the removed pod). There are 4 clips, I think, and I think that item is hinged at the console glove box, might help to have the lid open.

Have a look around down there and see if anything looks pinched when you have the shifter in Park.

[fastblackmerc]

Take apart your console and see if there's any sliced harness in there. My MM#2 has a warranty visit in its OASIS log pertaining to a short in that area, although I don't know the details. From the wiring diagrams, the P and N positions should do the same thing when it comes to providing the PCM and starter relay with the right signal.

Yank the gage pod first: with the parking brake set and the wheels blocked (in other words, use your head), slide the shifter to something other than Park. Massage the pod by holding both sides and pulling straight out, once it pops loose, you'll need to twist it up so it clears the shifter bezel. With the pod out, I believe it's a matter of pulling up on the flat center surface of the console by the open end (exposed by the removed pod). There are 4 clips, I think, and I think that item is hinged at the console glove box, might help to have the lid open.

Have a look around down there and see if anything looks pinched when you have the shifter in Park.
What he^^^^ said. You could also try taking the neutral safety switch out, leaving it connected to the harness and try to start the MM. Of course make sure it's in park and the emergency brake is on. Let us know what you find.

[Mike M]

Update...I again installed and adjusted the switch to perfection...NO GO!

I then adjusted the "shift cable to trans linkage" adjustment (big nut and slot).
After becoming one with the slot/nut I am able to start in P and N for the first time, must have been preventing it from fully going into park, ...BUT something still isn't right. When putting it into park unless you really jam it up into P it will amost snap back into R and you can see what looks like the PRNDL bezel moving and and down a bit.
Looks like it has gone from a possible electrical problem to a shifter cable adjustment problem.
Does anyone know if there is a shift cable linkage procedure available?
Also I hope they didn't mess with any possible cable adjustment under the console (if there is any?)
Keep it coming boys...thanks!

Computer in garage hook to internet...how cool is that!

[dwasson]

Does anyone else remember the 60s and 70s column shift Fords? The neutral switch would go out of adjustment, and we'd have to pull the shift lever harder into park to start it. This post reminded me of a 69 Galaxy I had.

[Mike M]

Same exact thing, and those cars also slipped into reverse.

[KilledKenny]

All adjustments are under the vehicle at transmission.
Place the gearshift lever in the (D) Position

Remove the nut, and disconnect the shift cable from the manual control lever.

Position the manual control lever in the (D) position.

Pull the manual control lever forward until travel stops.

Push the manual control lever backward two detents to the (D) position.

Connect the shift cable to the manual control lever, and install the nut.

Move the gearshift lever from detent to detent and compare it with the transmission setting. Verify that the engine will start in P and N and that the reversing lamps illuminate in R. If not, repeat the adjustment procedure.

[Mike M]

Thanks, I will try it that way. My way isn't working.