Why will my car not start when the battery is NOT flat?

Question

My car will not start sometimes. I arranged for a new battery and when they checked the current battery first it showed that it was not flat. They then said it might be the starter motor but ruled that out when we discovered it would start if put in neutral. Does anyone know what the problem might be if the battery and starter motor have both been ruled out as the problem.

Answer 1

If it starts in neutral all the time and doesn't start in any other gear, I would be inclined to say it's the neutral safety switch.

Answer 2

There aren't that many details. Going out on a limb but try reading the owner's manual. Newer vehicles must be either in park or neutral to start. Some must have the brake pedal pressed as well as being in park.

There could still be a problem with the starter. What sounds are made when you try to start the engine? Is there a click? There could be a bad switch. The battery could have a short. It would show good sometimes and bad sometimes. You could have a bad connection. I had the same thing happen to a pick-up. Once I cleaned the terminals and applied a grease to them before putting the battery back in, I had no more problems.

We really need more info.

Answer 3

Neutral Safety Switch! When I assume you have a automatic transmission? Ether the Switch Mount is loose of part of the shift linkage is not working because it should also engage to start in park. "Switch Mount & Shift Linkage!"

Answer 4

the safety switch in the column could be bad when the gear shifter is in park. as long as you can start it in neutral its...ok but you need to get it looked at a lil more throughly

Answer 5

Sounds like the "park" safety switch to me. The car doesn't think it's in park even though it is.