NSS !!!

 

That crimp in your exhaust sounds like the factory dent that they put in it to keep from banging the axel housing on bumps. It should look like a big dent but its ment to be there. You may gain some hp from removing the dent but just so you know, it was there from the factory.

 

This a typical gripe with an XJ NSS. Having to hold the shifter fwd. to get it to start in Park. Having to slap the shifter fwd. to get it to start in Park. Sometimes you lose starting in Park all together and you have to resort to starting in Nuetral. There is a "Poorman's" fix for this that works most of the time if your NSS isn't too far gone. You can actually remove it from the tranny, take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Make sure the contacts inside are nice and clean and shiney and put fresh dialectric grease inside to keep everything free from moisture intrusion. There is also a small amount of adjustment on the NSS that will cure a "no start in Park" condition, sometimes. Moisture intrusion is what almost killed the NSS in my Jeep. Mine had all the same symptoms you are experiencing. When I took mine apart it had water, mud and all kinds of nastiness inside. I cleaned it out. polished up the electrical contacts and slathered it with dialectric grease. Put it back together, put it on the tranny and adjusted it. That was 2-3 years ago and haven't had another issue with it....AND ask anybody on the forum. I have had my tranny submerged in all kinds of nasty mud and water many times in the past couple of years. My NSS always works as advertised. Hey if you've had a problem with your reverse lights not working, cleaning the NSS will fix that too. Contacts for reverse lights are inside the NSS, as well.

 

ok i get it, its the nss. ill take a look at it when i get a chance. thanks everyone