Park/neutral switch: '95 lh body

Question

QUESTION: My car is a 1995 Chrysler Concorde with 3.3liter engine,automatic transmission with column shift.

The problem is that suddenly I got no action at the starter solenoid when I turned the ignition key.

I have done the following tests: 1. When voltage is applied to the solenoid the starter cranks and

  the car starts.

2. The wire leading into the solenoid was properly plugged into

  the connector on the solenoid. (I had that problem before)

3. There is power at the #30 terminal of the starter relay and

  when that is jumpered to the #87 output which leads to the
  solenoid, the starter works and the car starts. 

4. The starter relay works when #86-input has power and #85 is

  properly grounded ie.- the relay is actuated.

5. There's no voltage at #86-input when the start key is turned. 6. Replacing the relay with known good ones doesn't work either. 7. Stabbing a test light into the yellow wire coming out of

  the ignition switch, which leads to #86 on the starter 
  relay, it lights up when the start switch is turned.    

8. So, now I'm perplexed. The ignition switch is apparently good

  and the relay is good too, but its not being triggered.
  I'm suspecting the Park/Neutral sensor/switch or maybe 
  the transmission shift linkage out of adjustment.

Can you please tell me how to troubleshoot and/or adjust those? Thanks, in advance.

ANSWER: Hi Ron, Unfortunately the wiring diagrams don't 'go' with the 30,85,86,87 labels but I get your point, and do appreciate the troubleshooting you have done so far. Let me describe the wire colors involved in actuating the starter relay: The coil get 12v from the ignition switch, which you have verified to be present on the yellow wire at the relay when you turn the key to 'Start'. The other end of the actuation coil needs to be grounded to complete the actuation and that is done via black/light green wire at the relay going to the transmission where there is an 10-pin plug (7 pins in use) that connect to the shifter position switch. The pin at that switch where you see the black/light green wire is supposed to be floating in all positions of the shifter except P and N where you should find it to be grounded (case ground of the transmission). So verify that both ends of the black/light green wire at the relay and trans plug are continuous, and verify that putting the trans in P or N does ground that plug socket pin of that same wire when the detent on the vertical shift rod is in P or N. Note there is also a light green/black trace wire at that same plug so don't confuse it with the one of interest. If it were a shifter/shift rod adjustment issue you should be able to move the shift lever a bit off center from the detent on one or the other side and get 'action' were that the problem. The shifter/shift rod are connected by a cable with adjustment made at the steering column end (I can tell you about that if it appears to be the cause of your problem). Let me know please what you determine. Please 'rate' my answer (see below). Thanks, Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Roland - that cleared up a lot of mystery for me, but I have some further questions now.

Q1. How do I gain access to the 10-pin trans plug that connects to the shifter position switch?

Q2. How is the black/light green wire (from the starter relay) connected to the trans plug? Is it a push-in type or do I have to somehow get inside the trans plug?

Q3. I presume that a continuity check of the black/lt grn wire would be done with an ohmmeter. Correct?

As you can tell,I have had no hands-on experience with this particular problem, but I'm ready to learn!

Answer

Hi Ron, The plug socket is adjacent to the vertical rod that is attached by cable to the gear shifter, on the left side (driver side) of the transmission. There is tab that when lifted will allow you to remove the plug from the socket. The wire is permanently attached to the plug but you can access it from the pin side to which it is attached. Continuity would be correctly assessed with an ohm meter (0 ohm reading). With the ohmmeter measure the resistance between and the metal case of the transmission (ground) of the socket side of that same wire's pin socket. It should read infinite is all gear positions except park and neutral and should read 0 ohms in park and neutral. Be careful to note the wire in question is black with a light green trace and it is on the same side of the 10-pin plug that has only 2 wires attached to it. Thanks for the rating and nomination. You can do it again if you choose. Roland