I got into my car and tried to start it in Park, but it wouldn’t budge. When I switched gears to Neutral, it roared to life. What was wrong?
If your car only starts in Neutral but not Park, it’s an indication that there is a faulty neutral safety switch. This switch makes your car start in either Park or Neutral gear, but if it’s faulty, then your car will only start in Neutral.
If you’re struggling with a car that won’t start in park, in this guide, we’ll help you understand what’s gone wrong and why it’s having that issue.
Vehicles are prone to depreciating as soon as you drive them out of the dealership. As time passes, different parts in the car will go faulty and require repairs. So, it’s not a total surprise that your car’s neutral safety switch or something else has developed a problem.
Below, we’ll take a look at the main culprits that are causing your car to only start in Neutral.
Every automatic transmission vehicle comes with a neutral safety switch. It’s very important because it stops the vehicle’s engine from starting unless the car is in neutral or park. This is so that you stay protected if you mistakenly start your car in the wrong gear.
Your car can start when it is in either of these gears, but will only start in neutral if the switch has a problem. You may also be unable to turn off the engine when it is in the Park position if the safety switch is bad.
You can easily replace the neutral safety switch by buying one from your auto mechanic or a car shop in your area. You can also order one online. Safety switches often go bad quickly and without warning, and you can only repair them by replacing the entire part.
If you’re wondering if there are some other tell-tale signs of a bad neutral safety switch, there are. Look out for the following to see if your neutral safety switch is really faulty or starting to fail:
This is another common reason why your car won’t start in Park but Neutral. If your car’s battery is old or drained, then you may have some difficulty starting it in the Park position. It’s a common problem with older cars or car batteries that have had a lot of use.
You can try charging the battery and then give it another go to see if it’ll pick up. Some signs that your car is not starting due to a battery issue could be the following:
If after you have tried charging your car battery, there’s no difference, then you may need to get a car diagnosis.
Automatic Transmission fluid is a transmission oil for automatic vehicles. It’s different from manual transmission fluid and it helps with different functions in the car, such as gear lubrication, brake band friction, transmission cooling, valve body operation, and more.
If your vehicle is low on transmission fluid, you may have some problems starting it in Park. You may also have some difficulty with turning off the vehicle.
To find out if your transmission fluid is low, you can look out for leakage signs where your vehicle is parked or use a dipstick to check whenever you change your oils.
Some warning signs that your transmission fluid is low are:
Similar to the low transmission fluid issue, your car won’t go in Neutral if the transmission is failing. If the gears in the transmission have become old, worn out, or broken, you may find it difficult or even impossible to start your car in Park.
This is because the gears that are turned on when you put the car in Park are thrown out of balance due to the state of the worn-out gears in the transmission. If your car is in this state, then you need to get some serious repairs done at the mechanic.
Although it is possible to start your automatic car in Neutral, it is always better and safer to start your car in Park. The only time you should start your car in Neutral is when you have no other option but to do so.
Many modern automatic vehicles will not start in Neutral or any other gear, but Park. In order not to stress the transmission, some push-to-start cars require that you shift the transmission into Park to be able to turn on the engine. The car may not start if you have not done this.
As we explained earlier, it is possible, but not OK to do so. Doing this excessively may lead to wearing out your car’s engine. Starting a car in neutral makes the starter motor run continuously in a bid to reach a high RPM to fire the fuel injector.
It puts an extra strain on different parts of the engine which will also be trying to keep up with the stress already placed on them by starting in neutral at all.
If you’re thinking about replacing your faulty neutral safety switch, you should know that prices differ on the market.
There are many things that can contribute to the cost of a neutral safety switch, including the model of the car, uniqueness, where it was manufactured, who will work on the car, and so on.
But you should know that they generally cost between $100 to $350 which includes labor costs if a professional will work on the vehicle. If you have the expertise to make the repair yourself, the switch should cost between $30 to $60.
The top reason why your car will only start in Neutral but not Park is because of a faulty neutral safety switch. Look out for tell-tale signs of a faulty switch and replace it as needed. Other reasons why your car won’t start unless in Neutral include low battery charge, low transmission fluid, or a failed transmission.
