Chrysler Repair: Dodge caravan won’t start from P /park-neutral switch.., dodge caravan, haynes manual

Question
Hi , Roland ,

Thank you for the advices about gear shift lever . Another problem and question – Dodge caravan 95 3.3 sometimes don’t start from P , but everytime starts normaly from N position , so long… I understood that it is a problem with park/ neutral switch on auto trans . Is it a serious problem , and I must solve it immediately , or may I ride for some time without changing the switch ? Is it possible to adjust (change) it myself , or professional must do that job?  

Answer
Hi Viadas,
According to the Haynes Manual for '95-2000 the shift cable at the vertical shaft lever on the transmission can be adjusted to give you start in both the park and neutral positions. It is possible that the actual switch on the valve body inside the transmission is faulty and that too can be replaced but you would have to drop the pan and collect the fluid, then remove the valve body to replace the switch itself. So until you try and adjust the cable, I wouldn't work at the interior of the trans.
Just put the trans in park, loosen the cable adjusting screw on the top of the lever attachment point, then move the lever back and forth by hand to make sure that is centered in its detect position, then make sure the shift lever in the cabin is similarly centered in its park position. Then tighten the adjusting screw (6 foot-pounds of torque) and see if you get starter motor action in both the park and neutral positions. If not, then there is probably a worn contact on the actual switch inside the trans. But as long as you can get starter in one or the other position I wouldn't give this repair a very high priority becasue it isn't a serious problem.
Roland