Not wanting to start in Park

This has happened a couple of times where the ignition will turn on but not start the starter to turn the car over in Park. switching to Neutral it will start right up and the first time this happened I just walked the shifter through the gears several times forcefully then it started in park.

Is the Liberty prone to a bad neutral switch or bad linkage and which is more likely to be? I see one outfit selling replacement bushings for the linkage which would lead me to believe the linkage bushings go out regularly enough for them to sell a kit.

Odd-intermittent no start in park? IDK what's up there ....I hope I can be of some help.
Both the Park/Neutral Position Switch & the park interlock cable come to mind, they work together.
The park-interlock cable is part of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system.
Bushings..at the transmission side? Most of the bushings we hear about are for the transfer case linkage/ shifter bushing.
Is the interlock cable out of a bit & require an adjustment? The cable can stretch a bit and may just require a slight adjustment.


Time to research the FSM and some inspections are in order.
link: Index of /manuals/Jeep/KJ
BTW it would be real helpful if you would include the year of your KJ into your signature line.

Well it hasn't done it again so pin pointing it to linkage or electronic switch is going to be a pain.

And now it has happened again. Today it would not start in Park or Neutral and walking it through the gears did not seem to help. Tried it multiple times as well as removing the key and so forth, nothing. Put it in Reverse and pushed it backwards a few inches and tried again, started right up. Since then I have re-started it twice in the garage with no problems.

I see threads about the key ignition switch and some plastic pin being a common problem and a $30 repair however it is unclear when this is the problem if the problem is intermittent or once broke it stays broke and your on the side of the road. The only other likely thing it can be is the transmission range switch and that is going to suck, especially since I just had the filters and fluid changed so there goes all that new, expensive fluid.

See this post..some good info from Bill..
Link: http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/2007-liberty-wont-start-63879/

LibertyTC said:

See this post..some good info from Bill..
Link: http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/2007-liberty-wont-start-63879/

Click to expand...

I had seen it or similar which is why I mentioned the key switch pin. Played around with the ignition some today and there is no slop or wiggle in any position. Of course Jeep started up on each test today.

I would think if this is a problem with the ignition switch assembly then once it failed it would stay failed, yes?

The actuator pin assembly does not initially break off completely....it bends!

You may have the actual ignition switch failing or its connector having a bad connection so you need to get to that area and check if the actuator pin is breaking, the ignition switch is working fine with little play...use a small flat screwdriver to rotate it and re-plug the connector on the ignition switch a few times to clean the contacts.

When you start the Jeep normally put it in both Park and Neutral and see if the starting problem ever comes back...may be a suspect Park or Neutral sensor!

Check the battery connections are clean and tight and the negative lead going to chassis is clean and tight and the grounding straps grounding the engine to chassis...two straps on the V6...are clean and tight both ends. The starter motor gets its ground through these straps.

The trouble with intermittent electrical failures is that they could be a loose connection or short anywhere in the long chain of the start circuitry from the fuse sockets to the relay sockets, Park and Neutral sensors, start solenoid connector and ignition switch area. Re-plug the fuses involved in the start circuitry such as the large 40 Amp fuse # 8 under the hood and the fuse controlling the starter relay and swap over the starter relay with an identical one near to it.

You can wire a pushbutton switch across pins 30 and 87 of the starter relay while the relay is still plugged in so you can start it this way until you find the culprit but beware that you must be in Park and/or Neutral or you could have a collision!

Hi guys,

I guess it's not necessary to leave in the slot the starter relay. You can unplug it and have pin 30 + 87 make contact with the switch on + PARK or Neutral. I will make the starter spins.

blackhawk said:

Hi guys,

I guess it's not necessary to leave in the slot the starter relay. You can unplug it and have pin 30 + 87 make contact with the switch on + PARK or Neutral. I will make the starter spins.

Click to expand...

@blackhawk what I gather you are stating is connect my suggested push switch across pins 30 and 87 inside the empty Starter Relay socket with this connection in series with the +12 volts position/s on the Park and/or Neutral switch?

This will not work because on this 2002 KJ there is no +12 volts present at the Park or Neutral switches......ground is switched through to the ground side of the Starter relay if the Interlock switch is working.


Also it is of no use to try pick up a connection from either Interlock switch as this is probably where the existing fault is coming from and it is of no use to pick up a connection from one of the interlock switches when the other interlock switch could cause you to turn over the engine while in gear and thereby cause a collision.


In summary, my suggestion of connecting a push switch across pins 30 and 87 of the Starter Relay while making sure you are in Park and Neutral was purely intended as a temproly measure for when the Jeep decides not to turn over and the driver is stuck in pouring rain or on a freeway and needs to get the Jeep fired up from the comfort of the Driver seat....this is only until the real problem is traced down!