can't start in P, only in N
 

I can't start my car when in park and only in neutral,
except some few occassions when I have driven car recently and it is still warm,
why?
what to do?

You have a touchy neutral saftey switch, this is located on the transmission on the driver's side, if it was my car I would remove it, inspect it , clean it and re install, if it still was acting up , I would replace it, if it is a 300E you can e mail me for the pages from the repair manual.

As previously stated it's the neutral start switch, located on the driver side of the transmission. Easy DIY replacement if you can get the car raised enough to work underneath. Said switch also operates the reverse lights.

Don't delay getting this addressed. Eventually it will no longer start in N; probably at the most inconvenient time possible. You can still start the car by jumping the starter solenoid to the positive terminal of the battery, but this will annoy your wife...

Part was about $25 when I last purchased one, but that was years ago.

- JimY

defective neutral switch.
 

Before doing any repair or adjustment, try this: spray switch liberally with WD 40. Sometimes road crud fouls up contacts. This worked for me. good luck, Abe G