200K Miles, One More Time…

[EricSilver]

I had wanted to capture the odometer as it turned from 199,999 to 200,000, but was too busy.

Overall, this car has performed well. Known mechanical issues are:

Clogged EGR Tube
Have not yet cleared it.

Neutral Safety Switch Faulty in Cold Weather
On the first start of the day, if the ambient temperature is below about 50degrees, the car will not start in Park, but always starts in neutral. After the transmission/safety switch warms up, the car will start in Park, no matter how cold it is outside, even after sitting for hours.

This past summer, I replaced my shifter bushing because of a tiny amount of play (which I now realize was normal). The technician used a McGuyver-type rod he invented to push on the new bushing while the car was on the lift. Perhaps replacing the bushing in this manner had something to do with the problem?

Since the neutral safety switch misbehaves only when cold, and functions perfectly when warm/hot, I doubt the problem is electrical since, in my experience, electrical problems have always been heat related. Plastics, however, stiffen up and become uncooperative in the cold, but pliable when hot/warm, and I suspect the plastic shifter bushing is the culprit here - - or perhaps some oily gunk that behaves the same way in the cold.

FYI: This type of neutral safety switch malfunction can have a curious side effect: On two recent occasions, the first after a very cold, windy, rainy night; and the second after a bitterly cold, very windy night, ASR/limp home mode was triggered within the first minute of driving the car. After restarting, the fault went away and, so far, has not reoccurred.

Since the computer analyzes a signal from the neutral safety switch to determine electronic throttle actuator behavior, I suspect my quirky switch sent a false signal, and triggered this fault.

This past weekend, the weather was EXTREMELY cold with below-zero wind chills. The ASR fault, however, did not occur. When it was triggered previously, I started the car in neutral, shifted into reverse to back out, and then drove off. Lately, I have been cycling the shifter back to Park before driving, and no fault has occurred.

Overall, this is a very good car. I just wish the body style was still in production.