# Car starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting/12140>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 24, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting/12140 "2008-03-24T15:39:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![praisshim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@praisshim](https://community.cartalk.com/u/praisshim)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting/12140/1 "2008-03-24T15:39:43Z")

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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

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**Author:** ![Craig58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Craig58](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Craig58)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-starting/12140/2 "2008-03-24T15:46:14Z")

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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.