Non start when in "Park"

[gpschmidt]

I have an '05 Liberty that I've had since new. It was my wife's vehicle until I replaced it last year for her. She now has a convertible Mini Copper that I store over the winter and have kept the Liberty as her winter drive.

I regress. So the issue started some time ago when the shifter began to become more difficult to move. It's an automatic, BTW. Best way to describe it is going from easy clicking from gear to gear to medium drag going through the gears and there isn't any clicking at this point. You can barely feel that the gear is in the right spot on the column.

The newest problem now is that the car won't crank, no lights or nothin' when it's in "Park". Put it in neutral, and she starts right up. I can put it in park from that point and it stays running.

What the heck? :emotions34:

 

[turblediesel]

There's a cable that runs from the gearshift to the ignition switch to keep the jeep from starting unless it's in park. I'm guessing the cable housing is goofed up on the console/shifter end of things since you mention extra resistance while shifting. Folks that don't like the interlock disconnect it at the ignition switch end by removing the steering columncover and, underneath, pinching the plastic clip and sliding the cable toward the front of the jeep. Doing this on yours will allow it to start in park again but it won't help the rough shifter. Pull the console and look for destruction. Been awhile but I think it's only a couple of screws in the bottom of the lidded cubby and a couple more under the rubber cup holder which pulls out easily.

 

[CactusJacked]

You can barely feel that the gear is in the right spot on the column.

I wasn't aware ours were available with a shifter on the steering column??

 

[gpschmidt]

Column was the wrong choice of words. I drew a blank on the proper term and went for column.

Thanks Turbledeisel for your words of wisdom. I was doing some research last night and thought maybe the neutral safety switch might be the culprit.

 

[turblediesel]

Nope, no column shift. Just a cable between the key and console shift lever to provide an interlock that only allows start in park.

 

[CactusJacked]

Nope, no column shift.

I knew that, mine was a lead-in question!

 

[turblediesel]

Three on the tree!