1965 Dodge Dart GT will start in neutral but only sometimes in park

[zookgumby]

Hi all,
As noted, the car will always start in neutral but only sometimes in park. This is a floor shift model. My first guess would be the neutral safety switch, but does it only function when in park and not neutral? Thanks for any info...
Tom

 

[zookgumby]

Hi all,
As noted, the car will always start in neutral but only sometimes in park. This is a floor shift model. My first guess would be the neutral safety switch, but does it only function when in park and not neutral? Thanks for any info...
Tom

I have adjusted the cable to where it should be consistent...but the steel "cage" that supports the shift/cable mechanism and mounts the shifter itself has been broken and rewelded by the previous owner so, that may be a factor. I've spent many hours getting the setup to be good with regard to the shifting position and have replaced cables, etc... so the tranny (rebuilt) shifts fine with relation to the shifter location. Is there a trick to dialing in the exact cable position (at the cable clamp location in the shifter housing) or can the neutral safety switch be adjusted at all...it doesn't look like it can be. It seems like the neutral safety switch should be OK if it works for the neutral position. No?
Tom

 

[Bewy]

Not sure what you are asking/saying.
Could be the NSS itself. Try screwing it in a further 1/8-1/4 turn.
If the gear location tabs on the shifter have been welded/moved, that could also be a problem.

Disconnect the inner cable from the shifter. Using pliers, you can move this cable for each gear [ grip the cable close to the outer cable ] . There is a 'notch' for each position. When in N, see if it will start. If not, adj the sw. If it does start, most likely the cable needs adjusting...or the welding has changed something.

 

[zookgumby]

Thanks Bewy...I'll give it a shot.
Tom

 

[zookgumby]

Hi all,
As noted, the car will always start in neutral but only sometimes in park. This is a floor shift model. My first guess would be the neutral safety switch, but does it only function when in park and not neutral? Thanks for any info...
Tom

Ok, I've spent a lot of time on this issue, and think I know what the problem could be. I replaced the steel framework for the floor shifter (the old one was crap repaired), adjusted both the shifter cable and park cable, made sure the neutral safety switch was working properly...and the park position still will only start now and then. The manual valve operating lever in the tranny has two "Fingers" so that the neutral safety switch is grounded in either "Neutral" or "Park" position. This is a newly rebuilt tranny and I'm betting the "finger" that grounds the Park position is slightly off, and as such, doesn't make contact as well as the neutral "finger". I may, at some future date try to modify the unadjustable switch to get some more depth, but for now I'll live with the hit and miss start in Park.

 

[Bewy]

The switch IS adjustable! It compresses an O ring which might be hard to see. Turn it 1/8-1/4 turn more, which will just compress the O ring a little more.

 

[zookgumby]

The switch IS adjustable! It compresses an O ring which might be hard to see. Turn it 1/8-1/4 turn more, which will just compress the O ring a little more.

I'll try again, I couldn't get it to move first try...I think the o-ring has hardened over time, the tranny is rebuilt but sat for years, or I may just try a new switch if that doesn't do the trick. Thanks Bewy, at least now I know what I'm dealing with.

 

[Bewy]

..or try a new o ring that will compress more...

 

[67Dart273]

It could be the switch, and (at least on later trans) it could be the rooster comb has loosened up on the shaft. Not familiar with the cable to trans interface on those

 

[Bewy]

Unlikely to be the switch because it always starts in neutral.

 

[Bewy]

Should have added to post #10. Not likely to be the electrical connection. Mechanical adjustment.

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Unlikely to be the switch because it always starts in neutral.

Not true, I had an aftermarket one fail like that in the Duster. If I slammed it into Park on the times it failed to start in Park it would usually work after that. The rooster comb that pushes the switch is not exactly the same profile in Park as it is in Neutral so it may be on the edge of not working in Neutral and over the edge in Park due to that difference. I now only use new old stock switches.

 

[Bewy]

Yes, I know all that. Which is why I said in post#11 that it is probably a mechanical adjustment. What you describe in post #12 is a mechanical adjustment because the projection on the N & P lugs on the rooster comb differ in length. One makes contact, the other just misses....

 

[Jim Kueneman]

Yes, I know all that. Which is why I said in post#11 that it is probably a mechanical adjustment. What you describe in post #12 is a mechanical adjustment because the projection on the N & P lugs on the rooster comb differ in length. One makes contact, the other just misses....

The aftermarket switch could not find a spot that worked for both all the time. The NOS one has worked perfectly

 

[zookgumby]

I'm still chasing a cure. I bought a new switch but it was the wrong design and among other things is too short to make contact. The correct design does not use an o-ring, but uses a thin butyl-coated washer to seal. Whenever the park position does not work the tranny is hot, it will always work when cold, so I'm thinking the trans aluminum housing expands just enough to keep the ground from touching properly. I suppose I could try to reach in with some kind of tool to pull outward on the "finger" but getting to that area is very tight and difficult, so I plan to try to machine down the switch mating surface to reduce the clearance. I'll let you know how that works out.

 

[Bewy]

What you say makes a lot of sense.

 

[zookgumby]

What you say makes a lot of sense.

I ended up machining about .035" off the mating flange and did not reinstall the thin sealing washer (used yamabond sealant). Now it works fine! Thanks for your help.
Tom