Wont start (Click), shift gear from P to R then back to P Starts it, after runs for a while it starts up fine.
Hi, when I go to start the car it will just click. I'll put it in Reverse and then back to Park and turn the key and it will start. After it runs for a while and is started, it will start every time I turn the key.
The battery is new and the starter is about 1.5 years old.
I don't know why shifting gears seems to help it start, I can't understand this.
My car has 250000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Your vehicle has something called a neutral safety switch that will prevent the vehicle from starting when it is in any gear position other than park or neutral. Occasionally, this switch can malfunction causing the car to stall as soon as you put it into any gear. This switch usually also monitors gear selection data as well to transmit back to the computer. This switch is connected to the starter solenoid which allows it to complete the starter circuit only when the transmission is in park or neutral. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Dodge Intrepid won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
There are a few reasons why you might find yourself unable to shift out of park. Some of the most simple ones are that you may be low on transmission fluid, especially if you`ve sprung a leak. Another popular reason why a car won`t shift from park is from a dead battery, which the above steps can usually help with.
It is under the fuse block in the engine bay. For your model year there should be a TCM and a ECM.
If the engine cranks but does not start, or starts and stalls, the fuses should be inspected, especially the power door locks fuse. The power door lock fuse provides power to a module that sends the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) the “OK to start” signal.
If your vehicle won`t start, it`s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you`re dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.
The brake light switch is the main culprit for your gearshift being stuck in the mode. It`s a small sensor located on the brake pedal that prevents the car from starting if the brake pedal isn`t depressed.
The most common reasons a Dodge Charger won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
The cause of this problem is usually one of 3 things – a failed starter motor, a bad connection between the battery and starter motor, or a blown fuse (if present) in line between the starter and the battery.
The most common reasons a Dodge Journey won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
Flat, faulty or dead battery
The battery is usually the main reason that your car won`t start, and is one of the most common callouts to the AA. There are a few ways your battery might go flat or even die: Something electrical was left on in the car, like the lights, which ran the battery down.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Wont start (Click), shift gear from P to R then back to P Starts it, after runs for a while it starts up fine.
ANSWER : Your vehicle has something called a neutral safety switch that will prevent the vehicle from starting when it is in any gear position other than park or neutral. Occasionally, this switch can malfunction causing the car to stall as soon as you put it into any gear. This switch usually also monitors gear selection data as well to transmit back to the computer. This switch is connected to the starter solenoid which allows it to complete the starter circuit only when the transmission is in park or neutral. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
My 2003 ford explorer wont start up just get click click click click click click click click
ANSWER : If the battery is weak and the voltage is dropping to below 9 volts you will get the clicking without the starter turning the motor. Have the battery voltage checked and if battery cannot hold a load then replace it and clean the battery terminals and recheck system to see if it starts.
Car in park shifter will move through gears but wont shift through the gears its stuck in neutral have emergency brake on so it wont roll
ANSWER : From what you’ve described, it sounds like the shifter cable came off at the transmission or the shifter. I’d suggest checking the shift linkage on the transmission to see if the cable came off. This is due to the connector end bushing falling apart and not being able to hold the cable on any longer. Some cables have to be replaced as a whole and as with others the bushing can be replaced to fix the cable. I’d suggest contacting a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, who can come diagnose your shifting issue and make the necessary repairs to your vehicle. Good luck.
Rough in neutral and runs fine in gear will stall when shifting out of gear to neutral
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a faulty MAP sensor as the vehicle responds adversely to a load put on the motor (i.e. putting it in gear, turning on AC or engaging the brakes). The Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor senses engine load and generates a signal that is proportional to the amount of vacuum in the intake manifold. The engine computer then uses this information to adjust ignition timing and fuel enrichment. When the engine is working hard, intake vacuum drops as the throttle opens wide. The engine takes in more air, which requires more fuel to keep the air/fuel ratio in balance. When the computer reads a heavy load signal from the MAP sensor, it adjusts the fuel mixture to slightly more rich than normal so the engine can produce more power. The computer will then retard (back off) ignition timing slightly to prevent detonation that can damage the engine and decrease performance. This may also be caused by other closely related components such as a dirty or failing mass air-flow sensor, a faulty throttle position sensor or potentially a vacuum leak. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
When vehicle is in the prosses of shifting there is a vibration. But it runs fine after shifting. What could that be?
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. From what you describe it would appear that there is more than one issue. Vibrations during shifting can be caused by several things. The first thing I would do is check that the transmission fluid is topped off and that the fluid is clean. Once the fluid is verified I would then carefully examine the transmission and engine mounts to see if they may be worn out. Worn mounts can cause vibration, as well as knocking sounds if they are worn enough. The grinding sound that you are experiencing during starting may be due to a worn flexplate or starter. When the starter is engaged a gear is extended, which contacts teeth on the flexplate, to turn the engine. If either the starter or flexplate teeth wear out, they can produce a grinding sound, which may eventually progress into a more serious issue. I would recommend checking the starter gear for any signs of wear or damage. If you would still like help, consider having one of our expert automotive technicians come to your home or office to look at and diagnose this vibration issue for you, and make any repairs as needed.
Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.
Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
Car won’t start. When trying to start, starter makes a clicking noise and then closed back hatch recloses.
ANSWER : It sounds like there is some type of drain on the battery. When there is low voltage in a battery, it can cause several symptoms. The electrical systems can act very strangely when they don’t have the correct voltage being supplied. When a battery won’t hold a charge, it can be caused by a wiring issue, a bad battery, or some type of parasitic draw that can slowly pull voltage from the battery. Some electrical diagnosis done by a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, will be necessary to pinpoint the cause.
