My truck won't start in Park. But, it will start in Neutral. Is this fixable?
What is your question?
I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota SLT 3.9L 6V Magnum. It did not initially have this issue. I had recently acquired it and was doing some tests on it when it stopped wanting to turn over entirely. My car then gave me a P1899 error code. When I looked that up, I found information that the neutral safety switch failed. So, I replaced it. Now, it starts in Neutral but not in Park. I can get it to start in Park only if I use a remote starter switch.
What makes this problem better or worse?
Nothing I do seems to improve the problem beyond replacing the Neutral safety switch.
How long has your 1998 Dodge Dakota had this problem?
Hey, my name is Dusty, and I'm one of the auto experts on RepairPal's Car Genius team. I'm here to help!
Hey there! You're on the right track with your 1998 Dodge Dakota SLT.
Given that it starts in Neutral but not in Park, the shift cable being out of adjustment is a likely culprit.
This misalignment can prevent the neutral safety switch from correctly detecting the Park position.
I recommend adjusting the shift cable to ensure it properly signals the Park position to the switch.
A professional technician can help if you're uncomfortable doing this yourself.
They'll be able to make the necessary adjustments and get your Dakota starting reliably in Park again.
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