Car only starts when in neutral

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MrTwister

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Ran into a strange issue today. Had to drop the steering column to get to the instrument cluster to try to fix a leaking oil gauge. Once everything was back together, the car wouldn’t start until we shifted it into neutral. Checked everything we could think of but nothing helped. Ended up loosening the 4 bolts in the steering column, rotated it slightly and the car started from park again... Held my breath and tightened up the bolts, and now it starts in park again. I couldn’t see any wiring that was pinched or disconnected. Is there something mechanical or a switch within the column that causes this?

edit:
1971 Duster - column shifter
 
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MrTwister said:
Ran into a strange issue today. Had to drop the steering column to get to the instrument cluster to try to fix a leaking oil gauge. Once everything was back together, the car wouldn’t start until we shifted it into neutral. Checked everything we could think of but nothing helped. Ended up loosening the 4 bolts in the steering column, rotated it slightly and the car started from park again... Held my breath and tightened up the bolts, and now it starts in park again. I couldn’t see any wiring that was pinched or disconnected. Is there something mechanical or a switch within the column that causes this?
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Pretty much any time the column moves around significantly it tweaks on the shifter linkage.
You probably just need to get under the car and loosen the adjuster swivel on the linkage rods enough to let it settle back into the full park position.

I'm taking a lot for granted here, like that your car is one with all the stock column shift linkage.:D
 
Assuming it is column shift, I agree with all about adjusting linkage.

Can't say for 66 older but 67 newer the neutral safety is on the trans.
 
Shift linkage is out of sync for sure
Center the column.
Disconnect the linkage
Place shift lever on trans firmly in park
Have shifter in full park on column
Adjust then reconnect linkage.
 
Loosening the NSS/linkage adjustment with lowering the column is pretty common.
Factory service manuals state that set up is done in neutral lever positions.
 
TrailBeast said:
Pretty much any time the column moves around significantly it tweaks on the shifter linkage.
You probably just need to get under the car and loosen the adjuster swivel on the linkage rods enough to let it settle back into the full park position.

I'm taking a lot for granted here, like that your car is one with all the stock column shift linkage.:D
Click to expand...
That worked great! Verified in the service manual to loosen the adjuster bolt and move the switch all the way to the rear. It was pretty stiff moving through the gears at first and I had a hard time finding all 4 stops with how much pressure had to be applied to move it. Got it back in full park and tightened the bolt. Starts every time from park now. Thanks for all of the replies!
 
When I drop the steering column when taking out the dash. The linkage would pull out the park rod and the car started rolling backwards. Seems the park rod into the trans has very7 little leeway when engaging the park
 
Dana67Dart said:
Assuming it is column shift, I agree with all about adjusting linkage.

Can't say for 66 older but 67 newer the neutral safety is on the trans.
Click to expand...
I think all torqueflites have the neutral safety switch on the transmission. It's the backup lights that went to the neutral switch in late '68.
 
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