1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park

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Author Topic: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park  (Read 8646 times)

Offline Alexm54

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1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« on: September 29, 2022, 07:16:55 am »
Hi, I am new to Mustangs and have a '65 Convertible auto. The car will not start in park but will in neutral. I have adjusted the Neutral safety switch on the box but this does not help. When the car is placed in reverse the reverse lights work. The gear selector appears not to be sloppy so I ruled out bushes. I have tried to do a search of the forum for previous advice but was not successful. I would appreciate any advice from the knowledge trust on how to fix the problem or direct me to somebody in Castle Hill NSW area that I can take the car to. TIA

Offline Dwayne

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2022, 07:53:26 am »
I can't help with fixes, but Big Al's mustangs is just in Kings Park and he is one of the best around.

https://bigalsmustangs.com.au/

Offline AussiePhil

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2022, 11:11:17 am »
Hey,
I’d say your Neutral start switch is faulty.
It’s probably the original 55 year old switch.
Check the continuity in park position.
Rotate to suit.
Cheers Phil.
If you've never buggered anything you've never done anything!
But if you've buggered a lot maybe you're not very good at it!

Two for one is good but four for two is better!

Offline scollist

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2022, 11:46:14 am »
I'm definitely no expert here, but it sounds like it is either wired the wrong way around, or installed upside down or the like.  i.e. it is active when it shouldn't be and not active when it should be, relative to the position of the gear leaver (or the switch is faulty as Phil said).

Check online for wiring diagrams, and also installation diagrams.

Offline GEOFF289

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2022, 12:41:36 pm »
I'm no expert either but I recall a similar problem with my first Mustang and it was just a matter of the selector linkages not properly adjusted. Will it start in Park if you keep forward pressure on the gear lever while turning the key?

Offline AussiePhil

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2022, 05:56:05 pm »
Hey,
Looking into this further there is a location hole on the side of the switch.
Place gear shift in PARK and loosen the switch and place a 3/32” drill into hole to locate a hole internally and tighten the switch in place.
If it still doesn’t work it’s probably a broken contact finger on the switch.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Phil.
If you've never buggered anything you've never done anything!
But if you've buggered a lot maybe you're not very good at it!

Two for one is good but four for two is better!

Offline Alexm54

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Re: 1965 Mustang auto gearbox will not start in Park
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2022, 04:53:39 pm »
Thanks for the comments. I saw Vince at Vineyard who looked at the problem. These were a bent rod going to the inhibitor switch, touching the wires to the switch. Lucky he found it as the wires were becoming worn and a fire could have started. He also replaced the inhibitor switch, vacuum modulator, service the box.
Again thanks for the comments