Does this sound like a bad neutral safety switch?

[brandon66]

I have an 81z with a 350 and th350 and today the car wouldn't start, just clicked so I thought maybe the solenoid hit a flat spot so I tapped the bottom of the starter and it started. The next time it did it, I did the same thing and it didn't work. I shifted it to neutral and started right up. What does this sound like? Thank you in advance.

 

[brandon66]

Now it sometimes starts in park

 

[Chris71RS]

I'm leaning more toward the starter because usually if the neutral switch goes, it won't work no matter how hard you hit it. Is the starter old?

 

[brandon66]

Maybe a year and a half old.

 

[frankz]

Put a jumper wire on the safety switch and that will tell you if it is the switch.

 

[brandon66]

The biggest issue is that it's intermittent.

 

[harbone66]

If the starter is "clicking" then it would not be the neutral safety switch.

 

[brandon66]

So then it's most likely the solenoid?

 

[harbone66]

Sounds like it, the neutral safety switch kills all power to the starter so it will not make any kind of noise when you turn the key. If you tapped the starter and it worked then it sounds like a solenoid to me. Make sure all your connections are tight and battery cables are not lose or corroded.

 

[brandon66]

Battery cables aren't loose and they are probably a month old. I just don't know why if I switch the gears, that it starts.