2001 Pontiac Grand Am Erratic success in starting

LINDEN GOULD

MEMBER
2001 PONTIAC GRAND AM

Transmission problem
2001 Pontiac Grand Am 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

What would cause the ingition not to start with respect to automatic transmission position? Normal starting procedure (transmission in park) sometimes (and more often now) will not start car. Sometimes moving out of and back into park several times has yielded a start but the problem is becoming more frequent (and probably advanciing wear and tear to the shift lever mechanism). Reading on subject addresses a linkage between depressing break pedal and moving shift out of park (the BTSI. And there seems to be no problem here anyway) but cannot find any description of a linkage between IGNITION and transmission malfunctions in the literature.

3 Replies

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,549 POSTS

The car should only start in Park or neutral. The shifter should only move out of Park when brake is depressed.

So I would suggest the Neutral Safety Switch is bad.

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Saturday, November 8th, 2008 AT 9:17 AM

LINDEN GOULD

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Much obliged for your response. I use Haynes and I found a reference to a Neutral Position switch. I would imagine this is also referenced as a Neutral Safety Switch in the auto repair jargon. Would you concur?