Sometimes won't start in Park

[Disturbed666]

Issue started the day after I bought my car ('06 GS) the car occasionally won't start in park, I know what the issue is, everytime it won't start the "P" light is not lit up, therefor I assume its the park sensor acting up, if I shift into neutral it starts no problem, it will occasionally start in park but more often then not it won't, wondering if anyone know how to get to the sensor, I'm hoping it's possible without taking it in.

[TheAnswer_03]

check this thread: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?36313-Start-no-start

post #13.

[Disturbed666]

can't be the starter. Like I said when it doesn't start in park I immediately shift to neutral and voila it starts perfectly, i've even shut the car off shifted back into park and it won't start again, I can sometimes jiggle the shifter around and the park light will come on, and it will start in park, I know it's the sensor I just need to know how to get to it

[rajin929]

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:wBTgw-YmtFYJ:www.mazda3club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid%3D8551%26d%3D132284746 8+service+bulletin+05-012/08&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgiogbqQLuQOFLh96cXru4VSxauBzC93qhS05vi L45LLSuEM1KacXcfUG4axULVsV57gIzk7It87HcKBj5OfXyGjt M3MlI4UHCh4RklcLWIL67fXz6rGsqwk88j4qric3gIZhqa&sig=AHIEtbQHa49ZSmaRNR6_JRYJI5c_zfmSDg

had the same issue with our car ('07 GS), found the TSB that says the cable lock lever and nut and washer needs to be replaced.

the parts only cost like $10 at the dealer and it took me about an hour to do in my garage.

the parts that were removed were rusted to shit (which is stupid becuase it's covered by the splash shields), causing the cable and switch to stick....the car was in Park - but the light wasn't on.

i coated the newly installed parts with a light spray of Krown Spray, have not had any issues so far

[Disturbed666]

well a little complicated then I originally thought but thanks, I bought the car used and not from mazda, would I still be able to get the parts from them?

[rajin929]

yeah for sure, just hit up the parts counter at the dealership in your area - give them the part numbers on that TSB and they'll get you the parts

[Disturbed666]

awesome thanks alot

[highlineMotors]

Issue started the day after I bought my car ('06 GS) the car occasionally won't start in park, I know what the issue is, everytime it won't start the "P" light is not lit up, therefor I assume its the park sensor acting up, if I shift into neutral it starts no problem, it will occasionally start in park but more often then not it won't, wondering if anyone know how to get to the sensor, I'm hoping it's possible without taking it in.

There is a bulletin on the shift lever at the end of the shift cable. It gets rusted and seized, which makes shifting from any gear a little hard sometime. The part isn't expensive.

[stock3]

I don't think it's the shifter linkage, this would cause hard shifting from park to all the gears, but it would not cause a no start condition.
I believe it's the transmission range sensor, OP referred to it as park sensor. I'm not exactly sur of its location, but it must be somewhere close to the shifter cables on the tranny. Here is a pic of it from r oak auto.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=936370

[113GT]

I don't think it's the shifter linkage, this would cause hard shifting from park to all the gears, but it would not cause a no start condition.
I believe it's the transmission range sensor, OP referred to it as park sensor. I'm not exactly sur of its location, but it must be somewhere close to the shifter cables on the tranny. Here is a pic of it from r oak auto.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=936370

it is the parking sensor, happened in the 2004 3 hatch gs.

cheap part and easy to replace.

[krimsalt]

Neutral Safety Switch. It has to be considering it starts in neutral

[Disturbed666]

I had a look under the car this morning and the cable lock lever is rusted pretty good, already found someone with ramps i can borrow, just need to wait till payday to get the parts

[seek]

have you fixed the problem , i like to know what's the real cause

[Booter22]

sounds like the range switch is on its way out, does it still start in neutral when it wont start in park? could also be a combo of the range switch and the starter signal wire as there was an updated kit that came out since produtcion.

[Pereira11]

its most likely the range switch as John stated, Mazda calls it an inhibitor switch. MSPR is $62.00 at the dealer

[aloogobi]

I fixed this for free by cleaning the nipple end of the shift cable lever (bracket?) with a wire wheel.

Remove under body splash shields
Find shift cable attachment point fore of transmission pan,
remove shift cable from shift cable lever by,
removing square retaining clip
and prying off the shift cable from the bracket by levering the end of the cable bushing towards the front bumper,
Clean rust off nipple & clean cable bushing,
Apply grease to lever nipple,
reinstall cable to lever,
reinstall square retaining clip,
reinstall splash shields.