01 Grand Cherokee 4.0L 144,700 miles

Will only start in neutral about every 20 times I start it. When this first occurred I had a new neutral saftey switch and a new connecting harness installed. Also had the shift cable adjusted. But the issue is still occurring. When it won't start in park, the lights on the instrument panel all come on, but when I turn the key, nothing. I've ran the shifter three all the gears a few times, but still won't start. Soon as I shift into neutral, I turn the key and it starts right up. Other then bypassing this, with a switch. What is causing this issue.???

 

it's gotta be the NSS. maybe it wasn't adjusted properly when replaced.

have you tried jumping the starter red-neck style with a screwdriver while in park with the key on? if it starts in park this way then i would say the NSS.

 

The NSS is a ball&plunger switch that rides on the shift quadrant inside the transmission. You can drop the trans pan and check to be sure it's doing that properly. The quadrant may be just a little worn or loose. The switch isn't adjustable in it's mounting hole and doesn't have much movement to actuate, so the problem must be with the quadrant.

 

Where is the shift quadrant located exactly.? Is it a pain to get to.?

 

I just spent awhile going thru my 42re manual, but it's for the pre-99 transmissions with the manual linkage. Yours (& mine) shifts with a cable. The only thing I can tell you is it's on the end of the cable inside the tranny near the valve body. You should see it on the inside right behind the NSS. There are 3 detents on the quadrant. One for Park, one for Neutral, and one for Reverse because the NSS also turns on the reverse lights.