# Car starting sometimes in neutral but sometimes wont start at all

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [February 5, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095 "2009-02-05T22:41:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![manley1992](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@manley1992](https://community.cartalk.com/u/manley1992)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095/1 "2009-02-05T22:41:20Z")

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Hello, When I bought my 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo, I was told that sometimes it started in Park and sometimes it didn’t. Anyways, it was fine, I just changed it to Neutral when this happened. However, I was coming out of class yesterday and my jeep wouldnt start in Park OR Neutral. Someone helped me and eventually I got it started in Neutral (now won’t start in Park at all). I am worrying that it may not start again in either of the gears.  
  
  
  
 I know why it wouldn’t start in Park, because of the switch, but why would it not start in Neutral also?  
  
  
  
 Also, I just got a new battery about two weeks ago. All the fluids in the car are fine as well

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095/2 "2009-02-05T22:47:36Z")

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It’s the same park/neutral safety switch: [http://www.autozone.com/N,16400218/shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm](http://www.autozone.com/N,16400218/shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm) It could just be linkage adjustment.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095/3 "2009-02-05T22:49:42Z")

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That switch is called the Park/Neutral Safety switch. Which means it only allows the engine start if the transmission is in park or neutral. It sounds like P/N safety switch requires replacement.

Tester

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**Author:** ![manley1992](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@manley1992](https://community.cartalk.com/u/manley1992)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095/4 "2009-02-05T22:55:03Z")

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Also, the cables that connect from the car to the car battery itself have calcium build up around the bolts and the area around the bolts are really dirty/grimy looking; could that affect the car’s ability to start??

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting-sometimes-in-neutral-but-sometimes-wont-start-at-all/26095/5 "2009-02-05T23:33:41Z")

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Yes. Disconnect and file, or scrape, or wire brush, the corrosion off the cable ends and the battery terminals…