Recently my '02 SE got a little weird about starting while the auto tranny was in "park". The dash lights would turn on, but no engine activity at all. Jiggling the shifter a bit would resolve it. Now, however, the issue is worse, and I can only start my car in neutral.

My first reaction was, this is a sensor of some sort and it can't tell I'm safely in park and not in, say, reverse.

 

Does the "P" light up on your dash when the gear selector is supposedly in park? If it doesn't, does it light up if you push the selector forward, as far as it would go, past the P? I'm thinking something loose or faulty that has to do with gear selector switch. For some reason I recall seeing someone having a similar problem in these forums.

 

The "P" does light up, yes, and without needing to push it forward more then normal. Even starting it in neutral, pushing it into park (P lights up), turning it off, re-starting immediately...doesn't crank engine.

 

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...S_673991595___

Stop light switch. It looks like that. Get it from nissan.

 

I thought a failed stop light switch would cause the car to have the shifter stuck in park. This isn't happening. I can freely move the shifter, the car just won't start while in park.

 

The shifter is moving only when the ignition is in the on postition correct? Even if you dont apply the brakes?

 

No, there's nothing unusual about how the shifter is moving. Everything is normal, except the engine itself will not do anything while the car is in park.

 

I understand. But when you dont have the key in the ignition at all, you can not move the shifter right?

 

Do your brake lights work?

There are, depending on the car, one or more switches - one is your "neutral switch" which when engaged, allows the starter to crank the engine. When your car is in "Drive" that switch disables your starter for obvious reasons.

Some cars use the brake light switch for that. Look at your car's wiring diagram (Haynes manual, or possibly online at Courtesy Parts) and see which switch it should be, and test that.

 

automatic maximas use the brake light switch for that

 

Ignition switch.... its in the steering column. I believe that may fix your problem.

 

park-neutral position switch maybe...

 

I'll have to step out from work and check a couple of things...brake lights / will the shifter move without a key, etc. Will report soon.

 

Back.

a) Yes, the brake lights work fine.

b) The shifter will not leave "park" unless I have the ignition into the "on" position (the spot before "engine start").

 

there is a switch that only allows a car with an automatic transmission to only start in either neutral or park positions. I think the switch is in the shifter mechanism.

This description is from the fsm:

A/T MODELS
Power is supplied at all times
through 40A fusible link (letter c, located in the fuse and fusible link box)
to ignition switch terminal 1.
With the ignition switch in the ON or START position, power is supplied
through 15A fuse [No. 20, located in the fuse block (J/B)]
to park/neutral position relay terminal 1.
Also, with the ignition switch in the START position, power is supplied
from ignition switch terminal 5
to park/neutral position relay terminal 6.
Ground is supplied, with the selector lever in the P or N position
to park/neutral position relay terminal 2
through park/neutral position switch.
The park/neutral position relay is energized and power is supplied
from ignition switch terminal 5
through park/neutral position relay terminals 6 and 7
to terminal 2 of the starter motor windings.
The starter motor plunger closes and provides a closed circuit between the battery and the starter motor. The starter motor is grounded to the cylinder block. With power and ground supplied, the starter motor operates.

 

To the front and left of your shifter, there is a neutral switch bypass. Check in your manual what you need to do to activate that, and try it. If that works, the neutral switch is your problem.

 

"Check in your manual what you need to do to activate that, and try it. If that works, the neutral switch is your problem."

If what works? The neutral bypass switch should always work. :P Unless you mean, if it allows the shifter to leave park without the key being in the on position. But that's normal also, isn't it?

I don't understand exactly what symptom or action is going from no -> yes here that proves anything.

 

i had the same problem ignition switch .

 

This. My sister had the same issue with her Jeep. It wouldn't start in park, but if she dropped it into neutral, it'd turn right over.

It's also known as a neutral safety switch.

 

I just realized I was reading the thread wrong. For some reason I kept thinking that the OP just had a problem moving the shifter, hence my suggestion for the brake light switch. My bad. lol

Neutral saftey switch is your problem

 

I'll re-post here again after the stealership has a go at it. I feel a lot better now pre-armed with some good information, so thanks all.

 

I see on Courtesy Nissan Parts there is a [32006M] SWITCH ASSY-NEUTRAL POSITION (Neutral Position Switch) AND [34980] "PARK" POSITION SWITCH-A/T VEHICLES (PARK POSITION SWITCH) for my 2003 Maxima automatic. I have the exact same problem as original thread poster. Which one would it be? Sounds like it could be either one!

 

Oh wait! I see on Courtesy Parts the the neutral position switch is for a manual transmission! So the Park Position Switch is what I think everyone needs to replace to fix this problem on a automatic not starting in park! I have to giggle the shifter in park a lot to get it to start.....
I noticed however aftermarket websites like Napa and Autozone list the PARK POSITION SWITCH as a Neutral Safety Switch for automatics....

 

Anyone have instructions on how to replace the park position switch on a 2003 Maxima automatic transmission? I could really use a step by step and pictures if anyone has them. Thanks for the help! I need to replace mine and don't know where to start.