74 Dart only starts in neutral

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George Lawicki

George Lawicki

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Hey guys,

Another issue has come up on my 74 Dart 225. Auto trans . Untill yesterday I had no problems starting the car. Then I turned the key and nothing. I tried it a few times and it did start but its intermitn. However it does start no problem if I put it in neutral. Ignition switch? N safety switch? Starter relay?
 
NSS is working because it starts in neutral. Key switch is working cause it starts in neutral. Linkage probably just not quite pushing the lever all the way in park. May be the shift lever is a bit slopped out.

Cley
 
I had the same problem and found I had to adjust the shift linkage. If I recall, there is a set bolt on the linkage near the transmission. You loosen it, move the linkage a bit in the correct direction and retighten it. It took me a few times to get it right.
 
Linkage adjustment most likely. If not, sometimes the "rooster comb" in the trans can come loose and do weird things.
 
George Lawicki said:
Hey guys,

Another issue has come up on my 74 Dart 225. Auto trans . Untill yesterday I had no problems starting the car. Then I turned the key and nothing. I tried it a few times and it did start but its intermitn. However it does start no problem if I put it in neutral. Ignition switch? N safety switch? Starter relay?
Click to expand...
George, you inbox is full. Have I asked you about a 74 service manual?
 
ACME SS said:
I had the same problem and found I had to adjust the shift linkage. If I recall, there is a set bolt on the linkage near the transmission. You loosen it, move the linkage a bit in the correct direction and retighten it. It took me a few times to get it right.
Click to expand...
Took a look at the linkage everything is all hooked up fine..some sort of electrical issue? The seat belt interlock is disabled. Is there something in the steering colum?
 
I had similar on my 96 Dakota. Got increasingly worse. I finally got under it expecting to find "shot" nylon bushings in the linkage. Around 240k on truck after all.
As it turns out the bolt that holds the shift arm on the trans had loosened and the arm "spread". Solution was as simple as tightening that bolt.
 
George Lawicki said:
Took a look at the linkage everything is all hooked up fine..some sort of electrical issue? The seat belt interlock is disabled. Is there something in the steering colum?
Click to expand...
It likely needs adjustment. Go to MyMopar (for now) and download the 73 manual. It tells you haow to adjust the linkage.
 
67Dart273 said:
It likely needs adjustment. Go to MyMopar (for now) and download the 73 manual. It tells you haow to adjust the linkage.
Click to expand...
I agree. It will "look" correct but like someone else said, the bushing may be worn or whatever. With it in park and not wanting to crank over, get under it and move the linkage in the direction that it would be moved by the park gearshift lever. If it move further by hand at the transmission and it starts after you get back into the car, then the adjustment is off.
 
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