My car wouldn't start of all places at Disney World last week and they gave me a free tow to their shop where they proceeded to tell me it'd cost $482.00 to change the starter. Thanks to iPhone I already knew I shouldn't be paying more than 250 for it and then when I went to have it towed from Disney to PepBoys it started so I have it at home now. I bought a new ignition switch that I had in my trunk for 2 months so I just put that on today and now it seems that it's starting fine. My brother suggested maybe it's the neutral safety switch because at times it wouldn't start in Park but it has been starting every single time in Neutral. I thought it was starting fine with the new Ignition Switch because it feels like it's back to normal (before, even in neutral it felt like it didn't have all it's power) but then just a minute ago it wouldn't start in Park.

Does know of any way to tell if it's the in fact the starter or possibly the neutral safety switch. I don't know anything about the neutral safety switch other than my brother suggesting that may be it but I would like to see what you think I should do next.

Thanks for any help...

 

It sounds like you've already ruled out the ignition switch and from the symptoms you're describing, it does sound like it could be the neutral safety switch. The symptoms you describe also do not coincide with typical bad starter symptoms. Have a shop check your neutral safety switch.

 

What would the typical symptoms for a bad starter be? The tow guy seemed pretty confident that's what it was but I wonder why he didn't ever suggest trying to start it in Neutral. We didn't try once until my brother suggested it.

 

Assuming you didn't tell him about the park/neutral trick then he would be correct about the starter. If the starter was bad, it would not matter if the car was in Park or Neutral, it just flat out wouldn't start. But since you mentioned that when it won't start in Park it will start in Neutral, that leads me to believe that the neutral safety switch is worn out or out of adjustment. I'm not sure the TL has an adjustable NSS so it may just be worn out. The purpose of the switch is to prevent someone from starting the car while in gear. It senses what gear you're in by the position of the shift lever so if it's mis-aligned or worn out, it will not work properly. My guess is that it needs to be replaced though. Take it to a reputable shop/mechanic and have them verify.