96 850 manual trans no crank but wiggling shifter let's it crank

Post by **JimBee** » 25 Sep 2025, 15:28

The problem is it's getting worse.

I guess there's an interlock that's supposed to prevent starting in gear. When engine is cold it usually starts immediatly, but after running and hot sometimes it takes many side-to-side wiggles before it will crank. Several times recently, it took many side-play wiggles to engage the starter.

Does anybody know where that interlock is located?

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 25 Sep 2025, 17:11

Sounds like the neutral safety switch that I believe is located on the transmission.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Sep 2025, 03:20

There isn’t an interlock on manual cars. Sounds like a wiring fault up front.

Post by **JimBee** » 26 Sep 2025, 08:17

Abscate: so wiggling the shifter side-to-side really has nothing to do with it?

Key switch, maybe?

Or connection at the solenoid?

Post by **abscate** » 26 Sep 2025, 10:46

It is it really correlated to the shifter wiggle?

The corroding pigtail at the starter manifests itself with a dead period of 3-5 seconds, followed by cranking.

Post by **JimBee** » 28 Sep 2025, 17:31

Thanks for the feedback.
The thing about wiggling the shifter is eventually, the solenoiid kicks in on start position, but whether that happens as result of wiggling the shifter, not sure; could be just a coincidence.

I suppose I can pull that connector off the solenoid and connect it to my multi meter, then monitor the meter while turning key to start.

I cleaned up that connection a year ago, but it's exposed to road debris,, water, etc., so it's worth checking again.