Is it my neutral safety switch that went bad in my car?

MISSYHINKLE

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SL2
199,898 MILES

Ok first I was driving to work I had no problems at all until I got to work well when I went on my 15 I was going to drive and get some coffee and some gas well as my car was parked I went to put my car in reverse I remind you I have an automatic car I went to move the gear so I can put it in reverse no such luck my gear would not move at all it just stayed in park and would not move I couldnt get it in reverse drive or neutral it just stay in park and for a few month when I had no issues with that when I went to park my car I had to wiggle to gear shift to make sure it clicks in park cuz I couldnt get my key out etc was that a sign I called my dad told ghim my car prob he called a mechanic explained it to them and they said it sounds like the neutral safety swtich if it is infact that is it expensive to fix thanks

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Not being able to turn the key off without playing with gear shifter or button doesnt sound like a bad neutral safety switch. Sounds more like a gummed up shifter which I have seen a lot of them over the years. Also not being able to take it out of park also doesnt sound like a bad neutral safety switch sounds more like a gummed up shifter and or a park lock shifter solenoid.

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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 4:02 AM

MISSYHINKLE

MEMBER
20 POSTS

Well the part where I couldnt get my key out of my ignition that was fixed I had a locksmith come out to my house and they had to rekey my ignition so that not an issue anymore the next day that when I couldnt get it out of park it would not move im more concerned on why I cant move my gear to reverse

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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 3:28 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

The 1997 saturns and other model years had a issues with not being able to. Turn the key off and it was caused by a miss adjusted bitsi cable not the cylinder itself. Its the cable that runs from the shifter that stops the cylinder from being turned off when the car isnt shifted into park. As far as not being able to take it out of park I would pull the center console so you can check for power and ground to the shift lock solenoid when stepping on the brake. Most of the ones I have seen have been a bad solenoid or gummed up shifters.

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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 7:06 PM