74 Dodge Won't Start in Park? (NSS?)

[James Chochole]

My 74 Dodge does nothing when I hit the key in park, but if I shift to neutral it starts right up.

Sound like a neutral safety switch? If so, how hard are they to change out?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Badvert65]

Have you tried starting in Neutral?
NSS is easy to replace.

 

[polara71]

Real easy ...
Unplug the wire and twist it off. Put a pan beneath for any fluid that comes out. Shouldn't be much.

 

[James Chochole]

Have you tried starting in Neutral?
NSS is easy to replace.

Yes, starts right up in neutral. Does the Neutral Safety Switch unscrew and I assume I can access it under the car if I jack up one side?

 

[polara71]

My 74 Dodge does nothing when I hit the key in park, but if I shift to neutral it starts right up.

Sound like a neutral safety switch? If so, how hard are they to change out?

Thanks,
Jim

Have you tried starting in Neutral?
NSS is easy to replace.

 

[James Chochole]

Thanks, Polara, do you happen to know what side I need to jack up? I don't even know what this thing looks like.

 

[polara71]

Left ( driver) side . It looks like a big nut with pins protruding from it

 

[polara71]

It should look something like this

 

[James Chochole]

Perfect, thanks for the pic. Where is this plug, on the lower part of the transmission itself? Near the pan or on top?

I appreciate the help!

 

[polara71]

 

[Mike McGuire]

Perfect, thanks for the pic. Where is this plug, on the lower part of the transmission itself? Near the pan or on top?

I appreciate the help!

Drivers side, pretty sure. Alternately, and for emergency purposes you can ground the starting relay to the battery. This will allow you to start it in ANY gear, but poses a risk for when you accidentally leave it in gear in a shopping center and someone is in front of the car/behind, etc. when you start the engine and run them over & kill them. Pretty sure it is the brown wire, see Chrysler B attached.

 

[James Chochole]

View attachment 395467

Perfect- I am on it now. Part will be in at 2pm and I'll get started, many thanks!

Cheers,
Jim

 

[68NewportSportVert]

If it starts in neutral it sounds like the switch works. The shifter lever may need adjustment. Do you have a meter to check continuity? Check the wire at the starter relay to ground. If you have one that beeps it makes it easier. Run the shifter through the gears from neutral to park to see where it beeps. You may have to push hard into park to get the beep. Adjust so that it beeps in park.

 

[polara71]

If it starts in neutral it sounds like the switch works. The shifter lever may need adjustment. Do you have a meter to check continuity? Check the wire at the starter relay to ground. If you have one that beeps it makes it easier. Run the shifter through the gears from neutral to park to see where it beeps. You may have to push hard into park to get the beep. Adjust so that it beeps in park.

I've had to adjust these on more than one car. Usually a original car or one that hasn't been messed with will not be out of adjustment.

 

[68NewportSportVert]

I've had to adjust these on more than one car. Usually a original car or one that hasn't been messed with will not be out of adjustment.

Yes, but I've never heard of a NSS that only works in neutral and not park either. On a 46 year old car things wear, or a nylon bushing deteriorated, etc. There was no mention of any recent work that may have disturbed the linkage but that's possible too.

 

[DCMC]

I had a van that wouldn't start in park only in neutral for a short while. It was the 2nd gear adjustment the bolt to left of the shift arms. If I recall correctly it tightened to 6 ft lbs.

 

[cbarge]

If it starts in neutral it sounds like the switch works. The shifter lever may need adjustment.

What he said..

 

[James Chochole]

Update, I changed out the Neutral Safety Switch and the problem was not that. So here are the issues:
a. won't start in park, only neutral
b. when car is in Park, the brakes are not applied- it rolls.

Does that signal something else or confirm someone's suspicion?

 

[live4theking]

There is a plastic burning in the large that is worn or had fallen out. I had this happen to years ago.

 

[cbarge]

Update, I changed out the Neutral Safety Switch and the problem was not that. So here are the issues:
a. won't start in park, only neutral
b. when car is in Park, the brakes are not applied- it rolls.

Does that signal something else or confirm someone's suspicion?

As mentioned in previous posts,the shift linkage may need adjusting or repair.
You will need a buddy to help out..
Chock the wheels and jack her up to access the shift linkage.
Crawl under the driver side and observe the shift linkage.
With the swamper inside to go through the gears, put her in low gear not running of course.
Put in park and observe the position of the linkage at the trans,loosen the adjuster nut and move the linkage and check to see if it starts on park.
If you have the FSM for your car refer to it for adjustment.
Hope this helps.