# What causes car to start when in park but not in neutral? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mustang, ford\ **Created:** [September 5, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176 "2021-09-05T14:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/1 "2021-09-05T14:28:03Z")
Title. MD inspection failed me because car has to start in both park AND neutral. Car only starts in park but not in neutral. I hate MD inspection but this is a rant for another day…anyway what part is the culprit? ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/2 "2021-09-05T14:40:48Z")
The "neutral safety switch is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/3 "2021-09-05T14:55:59Z")
Or possibly needs adjustment. ---
**Author:** ![J162\_165342](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/j162_165342/32/40582_2.png) [@J162\_165342](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J162_165342)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/4 "2021-09-05T15:09:06Z")
Also they failed me because the little red dot/gear shift indicator that tells you whether it’s in P, R, N, D does not move out of park but the shifter (automatic) itself moves through the gears just fine. Do i need a whole new shift assembly or is there an easier fix? For a 2005 mustang gt ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/5 "2021-09-05T15:14:32Z")
Ford has had some problems like this. Your dealer should know if there is a Ford-recommended fix that you won’t have to pay for. Don’t call it a recall - that’s a limiting term. Tell them your car’s symptoms and its VIN. You might be able to find out yourself on line if your car is covered by some special program. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/6 "2021-09-05T18:12:18Z")
@Mustangman , what say you? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/7 "2021-09-05T18:19:43Z")
The transmission range sensor provides gear position input to the TCM/Instrument cluster. The range sensor in located on the gear selector shaft on the transmission. Inspect for broken wires before replacing the range sensor. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/8 "2021-09-05T21:34:44Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > The transmission range sensor provides gear position input to the TCM/Instrument cluster. The range sensor in located on the gear selector shaft on the transmission The gear selector shaft on the transmission has an adjustment procedure so that the gear selector cable and shifter position the input shaft correctly. I’d adjust that as a first step. A scanner that can read the IPC (instrument cluster) can read the selected gear. If you pull the shifter into neutral and the IPC doesn’t show neutral, the cable needs adjustment. The procedure doesn’t require a scanner, though. The procedure, page 1, for a 2014, the 2011 (?) should be similar. ![Shifter 1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/c/ac02b146f5f0bcc2dbc7bbe1df5c645b1317dfd7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-causes-car-to-start-when-in-park-but-not-in-neutral/179176/9 "2021-09-05T21:35:02Z")
Page 2 ![Shifter 2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/1/b139f52f088ef46b18ffc33db77d6254d364c9e2.jpeg)