Sorry about the Ford question on a Camaro Forum! But, I did post in Bench. Anyway I have my Dad's old 66 mustang coupe. He lost interest in it so now I have it. It's has a 200 cid 6cyl with a C4 (I believe). Auto on the floor. Orginally it had a 3 speed manual and was converted to automatic a long time ago. The problem is sometimes it lurches in reverse when the shifter is in park as I'm starting it. Dad say's 'make sure you keep your foot on the brake when you start it!' :confused: There is no neutral safety switch. I noticed that when the car is shut off and in park I can sometimes push roll it many inches (almost a foot) and then I hear a click in the tranny then the car is finally in park. It's almost like the parking pawl is not engaging right away until I push the car aways. The shifter feels gummy also. Is this an easy fix to find out why the parking pawl is not engaging?? Also how hard would it be to put in a safety switch? Cause I can start the car in gear right now. Thank You.

I don't know anything about Ford C4's, but just guessing, it sounds like something loose or misadjusted for the shifter, so that the lever on the trans is sitting half way between park and neutral when you put the shifter in park.

As said, adjust the shifter linkage to the trans shift lever; neutral to neutral.

Chad

As Jon and Everett both stated, your shifter is out of adjustment. It was probably never adjusted properly when they did the swap. If I remember correctly there is a small hole that you stick a drill bit through and then adjust from there. It's been a long time. :D I'll see if I can find some instructions for you.

The car DOES have a neutral safety switch. It's on the transmission and the wires run up to the plug right next to the master cylinder. Check it. Some yahoo may have bypassed it by plugging the wires back into themselves up by the master cylinder. You don't want to drive without a neutral safety switch. I bent a door backwards bumping the solenoid with a screwdriver to get it up on TDC and wasn't aware that someone had bypassed the neutral safety switch. They're there for a reason...

This website has loads of info on Rustangs.

http://www.vintage-mustang.com/

Edit:

Here's how to adjust it.

On the transmission there's the neutral safety switch and shifter linkage with a long slot.

Obtain a #43 drill bit, install the switch and attach the bolts finger tight. Insert the bit into the hole on the switch and gently rotate the switch until the drill goes in. Tighten the nuts and test. If the car will not start, the switch is out of adjustment. Check for start in P and N.

Some more...

Set the shifter in neutral..First there is a little hole in the neutral/start switch.Loosen the 2 N/S bolts + put a small drill bit in the hole so it aligns the linkage.You should feel the drill or even a piece of wire slip right in..
Now adjust the slide on the shift linkage so the shifter sits against the stop for neutral.That should be it.


Mark

Thanks Guys, and Thank you Mark for posting the info! I've only had the car a couple of days now. Called my dad and he said the C4 tranny and engine are out of a 68 stang. that might complicate things trying to get the switch hooked up since it's 66 car with a manual tranny dash wire harness. Also I crawled under the car and the neutral safety switch is there and a small harness that leads to nowhere. I looked under the dash and saw four wires and two where connected together and the other two dangling. Those might have been the switch wires for the manual tranny. I didn't investigate much further since it was 16 degrees in the garage last night. Thanks again and I won't bother you guys with rustang questions. I'll check out that mustag forum. Chad

Thanks again and I won't bother you guys with rustang questions. ChadYou're welcome, why not?

Chad

You're probably right about the wiring since it was originally a manual car. Just for grins, look right next to the master cylinder for a two prong plug (one male one female) that's where the 'dangling' wires on that switch would hook up, if it's there.

You can still adjust the switch and shifter linkage with the drill bit method. Hopefully it will fix the problem. Put it in neutral. Loosen the nut on the linkage where the long slot is, and then adjust the switch. It will still be able to crank over in drive though.

Mustang questions are welcome. I'd be glad to try and help if you want to PM me. I've got a '65 Convert. and a '66 6 cyl. auto coupe. I used to have a complete wiring schematic for a '66 on my old work computer, but it's long gone. Sorry guy.

That Mustang forum is pretty good. Not as good as this one though. ;)

Mark

Mark, Thanks.
I did look by the master cyl. and I can see a hole in the firewall. The hole is below and to the outside of the MC. There is nothing there but an old grommet. I'm a little confused yet. I understand why I should adjust the linkage but do I need to adjust the switch if it isn't hooked up yet? Or maybe you mean both have to be adjusted at the same time? How does the switch play into the lurching prob during starting? Looking at a ford is like trying to read Chineese to me! I've always had GM but i see there are some undercover Mustang owners here!

Chad,

Take a good look under the dash and see if you can find some wires with the same type plug end as the dangling wires on the switch. Someone may have pulled them through the firewall.

The switch and the linkage need to be adjusted together. It may take you a time or two to get it tweeked just right.

The car is moving when you start it because it's not fully in park. If the switch were hooked up, the car probably wouldn't start because the shift linkage is out of whack. On my '66 I have to put it in park and move the shifter side to side a little to get the button to pop out and fully lock in park. What can I say... they're Fords. :D

I can try to dig up a schematic for you if you think it will help.

Mark