Hi all I have a 1997 3.2 auto. My problem is that when I turn the key to start the engine I have to push the gear selector over to the left for the engine to start. Also when I select any gear the gear selection light on the panel no longer lights up unless I gently move the level to the left and then it dose but if I let it go the selector level will move back to the right and the gear indicator light will go back out again. The other thing is that if I selected reverse the car dose go into reverse but my reverse lights will not come on but once again if the gentle push the selector level to the left the external reverse lights come on and the gear indicator light in the car lights up. It’s obvious that something has moved out of place around the gear level but what and any ideas on how to fix it?

cheers all

 

on the right side of the park " gate " there is a not in park switch

if you purchase one it is either normally open or normally closed microswitch commonly avail on E - bay and such

" The switch is wired to be normally-closed (lever unactuated) " from another poster

If the switch is working you will hear a click ( better by putting your finger on it by feel ) on the ignition key barrel , ingition interlock solenoid as you move the lever right to left

Pic coming

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So in this pic the microswitch is inside a carrier that has a metal finger on it as relaxed

The switch will have continuity ( closed ) in this relaxed position ( not in park detent / gate ) , meter test before installing

 

The transmission interface with the starter enable is a little bit different between the 3,2 liter / ZF4HP22 transmission and the 4.0 liter / ZF4HP24 transmission

The 22 does not have a transmission mounted rotary position switch if you get into that area

 

The "Not in Park" switch plays no part in the starting process for the engine, or in the gear indicator lights. It simply tells the car if the gear shift is in park or not. That's all.

The problem you describe is likely to be in the gear shift "Linear Switch" module. That's the big black box at the bottom of the picture above posted by @Parker 7 . It can be adjusted a little as it has small slots in the mounting points. Worth a try.

 

On the linear switch it can be opened ( but a pain to remove the unit as close screws ) and cleaned the delicate fingers that make your switch contacts and a little electrical fingers bending to get better switch contacts

This is also a coffee fluids collection point so soak and clean contact fingers , then sand with a pencil eraser , yep

There was a change in part # for some reason

Off the top of my head since you do not have a transmission rotary switch on the ZF4HP 22 that chore is taken care of by the linier switch , I have the 4.0 / ZF4HP24 combination

The moving the shift lever to the left probable has a very slight linier movement to get your linier switch to read a change of state / contact position for the better

The pic is from Mark Oliver on his V - 12 ( same shift lever box )

The intermixing of the start enable / shift lights / and something else I can't recall involves putting about 3 wiring prints / pages together and I have probably already done that in the past in " breaking the code " for someone with your transmission , it's a mater of finding that work maybe on a broke computer or other sources like flash drive archieving

As you bring the shift lever very slightly out of park you should feel the key barrel click , this verifies the not in park switch AND PUTS THAT AWAY TO BED SO YOU CAN CARRY ON FORWARD

THE MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE LEFT PROBABLY HAS A VERY SLIGHT Vertical MOVEMENT OF THE LINIER SWITCH FOR THE BETTER

cAT

 

See page 42 and 64 for the 3.2 liter

Note the linier switch box used in both aspects of starter enable and shift position lights and also reverse gear exterior lights page 84

jagxj1997.pdf