Changed tyranny on my 84 300d turbo in January. In April, had trouble starting it in park-had to start it in neutral? Now every once in a while it will not start in neutral either. Had to wait one hour before restarting it. Today, same problem, waited 6 hours and it still don't start.
Please HELP!!!

Neutral safety switch is bad or the screw that hold the actuator to the switch is loose.

Jack up the car, put it in neutral, and line up the hole in the bracket with the hole in the switch, and verify that the screw that hold the switch lever to the tranny lever is tight. This will fix an adjustment problem.

If that doesn't work, you can unplug and jumper the switch for the time being between the terminals marked "50". Have a care, as it will then start in gear, too!

Replace the switch if it is bad.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Screw that hold the actuator to the switch is tight .Can you please tell me where to unplug neutral switch and locotation of of terminal "50" and how to jump it.
Thanks to psfred

lovac

Lovac,

Connect a voltmeter or light to the terminal of the starter solonoid that has the small diameter wire going to it. See if there is voltage there when you turn the key switch to start position.

If there is voltage at the solonoid terminal and the starter does not crank the engine, the problem is in the solonoid, starter or heavy wires from battery to solonoid or ground. If there is no voltage at the solonoid terminal when key is turned, the problem is in the neutral switch, key switch or wires.

Another way to diagnose the problem is: when the starter won't crank the engine by turning the key switch, connect a wire from the small wire terminal of the solonid to the + terminal of the battery (always connect wire to solonoid terminal first then touch wire to battery + terminal). If the starter then cranks the engine, the problem is in the key switch, neutral switch or wires. If the starter still does not crank the engine, the problem is in the starter or solonoid or heavy wires to the solonoid or ground.

P E H

?¢?? also turn the key on and put the car in reverse. If the backup lights do not come on, there is a high probability that neutral safety switch is either out of alignmnet or not functioning. Even if the screw is tight the switch may have shifted.
This is as an addendum to the foolproof steps outlined by PEH.

Got it going ! Starter solenoid was gone-repaired it and car is starting ,but still have to start it from neutral.
Tried putting it in reverse and backup lights come on.at
Thanks for the help guys.

Hey Lovac, was there any "click" when turning the key to crank? Or was it just dead silence?

There was no "click" on the starter but you can hear "click on the other spot somewhwere on the front of the engene (sounds like some sort of relay or solenoid "click") .

Lovac,

The other click may have been the GP relay.

P E H