Neutral Safety Switch...I'm stuck

[Locknut]

I've searched all over but i can't seem to get much info about this bugger. My mech is telling me if the car won't start in neutral...it isn't the neutral safety switch...but i could have sworn i saw a post by Qtech that if the switch is bad it won't work in park or neutral. Could my linkage need adjustment? Could there be any other possibilities...Why did jigglin the shifter in park help...before it went totally bad?

Thks in advance

[96Qowner]

Here's the only post by Q45tech I could find:

"With a dead battery no juice to disengage the shift lock [when you depress brake pedal] therefore a manual button to allow you to get into neutral for getting on the flatbed."

SLIP light in my HUD

And here are two threads on the shift lock problem:

shift lock ?

Backup Lights and Shift lock issues

Sounds like a problem in the brake light circuit.

[Locknut]

Well shucks...can't take the risk of havin this thing conk out again...the ex would have me shot. $317.00 parts and labor....they said transmission had to be lowered a tad to get in there. Now thats just like a Q isn't it! Nothings easy!

[96Qowner]

Ok, lets get some more info.

Are you saying that the ignition won't work? The key is dead unless you jiggle the shifter, and that doesn't always work? And same in Park or Neutral?

[Locknut]

no, the car powers up but starter wouldn't turn over with full turn of the key unless I jiggled the shifter and tried again...then it just plain ol wouldn't work. I've tried moving it into neutral to start but no luck. Thks for your interest though.

[96Qowner]

Well, it just looked like I had repeatedly posted useless info to you.

So, clearly, no juice to the starter - and something to do with the shifter, cause wiggling it helped. I vaguely remember someone else with the problem, but I can't find it.

I did find these three threads:

93 Q45 T Neutral Switch

91 Q45 Starter intermittently won't turn over

1994 Q45a Starting Problems

Some good diagrams.

The dealer wants to replace the inhibitor switch, I take it? You might consider having the transmission mount and exhaust hangers done, if they're gonna be in there anyway.

[Locknut]

96Qowner...thks so much...those posts are just what i needed. I'm going to check the starter relay and see if i can adjust the inhibitor switch. just so i know i have this right...is the inhibitor switch the same thing as the neutral safety switch? thks again for your help...

[96Qowner]

Yes, same thing.

[Locknut]

Well here's the end to this thread...the safety switch (inhibitor) is a sealed unit so there's no contacts to check that I could see. It sits on the passenger side of the transmission in between the the shifter linkage and the housing, behind the starter...it's next to impossible to get your hands up there to remove or adjust it...with out lowering the transmission a little. Adjusting it didn't help. $190.00 bucks at local dealer(if you need it asap)...and I got a new starter relay just in case (blue relay next to abs). Thks all for your help.

[Q451990]

Thanks for letting us know!

Heath

[96Qowner]

Ditto, Locknut! Rare problem, but a definitive fix. Thank you.