# Neon ignition switch won’t turn to lock **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 28, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184 "2025-07-28T01:51:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/21 "2025-08-06T00:03:32Z")
> [@knocksensor](#): > > Why couldn’t a little kid figure out how to shift it. That’s not the point. @Nevada_545’s description was a little abbreviated. It’s about making sure that the car can’t start if it’s in gear. It has to be in P or N with the brake pedal depressed. And it can’t be shifted unless the foot is on the brake. In cars with a manual transmission, the switch is generally on the clutch pedal - no ignition if the clutch isn’t depressed. > When I was about 18 driving an old, beater Toyota pick up without such a device, my 6 yr old sister hopped in and turned the key. The truck then chugged it’s way backwards (I always parked in R) into our garage. A few feet in another direction, it might have chugged its way, out of control, all the way down a steep hill. Nothing bad happened in this case. But it could have. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/22 "2025-08-06T00:19:15Z")
> [@cigroller](#): > > It’s about making sure that the car can’t start if it’s in gear. The transmission range sensor validates shift lever position for starter operation. The shift lever interlock cable doesn’t allow the shift lever to be moved from the park position when the ignition is locked. More of a security feature. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/23 "2025-08-06T01:03:00Z")
> [@cigroller](#): > > It’s about making sure that the car can’t start if it’s in gear. It has to be in P or N with the brake pedal depressed. And it can’t be shifted unless the foot is on the brake. It has nothing to do with starting the vehicle, that is the neutral safety switches job, and you do not have to depress the brake pedal to start a keyed ignition as a rule of thumb, the cable is only a safety feature to not be able to move the shifter out of park without the brake pedal being depressed and the ignition switch being rotated toward the start position, kinda a double safety feature, and also to keep you from removing the keys without moving the shifter to park position… Oops, didn’t see above post… ---
**Author:** ![knocksensor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@knocksensor](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knocksensor)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/24 "2025-08-06T13:49:53Z")
Actually the cable still works on the shifter side. It can’t go from neutral to reverse unless you push the button. That’s all I need it for. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/25 "2025-08-06T14:50:09Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > The shift lever interlock cable doesn’t allow the shift lever to be moved from the park position when the ignition is locked. More of a security feature Well, if the kid can move the shifter to neutral without the key, then the vehicle can roll can’t it? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/26 "2025-08-06T14:54:33Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > Well, if the kid can move the shifter out of park without the key, then the vehicle can roll can’t it? I corrected it for ya… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184/27 "2025-08-06T15:41:23Z")
> [@knocksensor](#): > > Actually the cable still works on the shifter side. It can’t go from neutral to reverse unless you push the button. The shift interlock cable prevents the shift lever from being released from park when the ignition is locked. Shifting between other gears is controlled by the button on the shift level, not the cable. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/neon-ignition-switch-won-t-turn-to-lock/201184.md?page=1)