Car starting

March 24, 2008



Dear Tom and Ray





I am a lady of 71 years old. I have a 93 Nissan Altama. When I go to start it sometimes it will start the first time and sometimes it doesn?t. If I put it in neutral it will start. I have spent so much money on this car I can?t afford another car. What do you think is wrong?



Sincerely Cathleen Brown

If the car fails to start in park, but will start in neutral, the problem is usually something called the neutral safety switch. That is a safety device that keeps you from starting in gear. A good independent repair shop can replace it pretty easily. It shouldn’t cost more than a couple of $100.