Starting 99 Solara problem

[div935]

My GF has a problem starting her 99 Solara. She has to apply pressure to her shifter in different directions while turning the key until the ignition turns on and starts the car. She's been told that the switch in the shift linkage that tells the computer the car is in Park is loose or going bad.
Can anyone help with this? I'm sure if I can fix this it would save major $$$ at the dealer.

[Gadgetjq]

[quote=div935;2323283]My GF has a problem starting her 99 Solara. She has to apply pressure to her shifter in different directions while turning the key until the ignition turns on and starts the car. She's been told that the switch in the shift linkage that tells the computer the car is in Park is loose or going bad.
quote]

What your GF has been told is probably spot on. There's a safety switch that will only allow the engine to start in Park or Neutral. The problem could be as simple as a poor connection or as complicated as needing a new switch.

Suggestion. Tell her to try starting the car in neutral. If that works then the switch might only need an adjustment.

Cheers

[bf2]

Originally Posted by div935

My GF has a problem starting her 99 Solara. She has to apply pressure to her shifter in different directions while turning the key until the ignition turns on and starts the car. She's been told that the switch in the shift linkage that tells the computer the car is in Park is loose or going bad.
Can anyone help with this? I'm sure if I can fix this it would save major $$$ at the dealer.

I had this problem, if it is not the NSS (neutral safety switch) switch, it could very well be the starter. A starter going bad can give you fits because it starts out being sporadic then more intermittent until the frequency of failure increases to the point were you can recreate the problem. Also your GF (blonde, petite, pretty, thinks she is smart) may not be giving you all the symptoms or sequence of symptoms correctly. Adjust the shifter cable, check the mechanical movement of the NSS (it’s mounted directly below the starter connected to a lever that the shifter cable goes to) make sure the cable is moving the lever its full motion. You can actually reach down and and push the lever to make sure the NSS lever is at its stop. If the starter has a flat spot on its commutator then on start it pull (LOAD) battery voltage down somewhere between 7 to 8.5 volts. Let me know if this has helped you.