Hey guys, if anyone has dealt with this please chime in...

70 Coronet column automatic 318 w/ AC

When I try to start the car in park or neutral
more often than not nothing happens...

I have a new starter relay,
a new neutral starter safety switch (NSSS) and the trans
has been rebuilt by jasper (shifts fine)...

IT is a grounding problem...

If I unplug the brown wire off of the starter relay and
ground it. The car starts everytime...

This is obviously bypassing the neutral starter saftey switch(NSSS).
(I know this is bad because the car can be started in gear this way
but it rules out the starter relay...and the ignition switch!)

Next, If I take the 3 pin harness off of the NSSS
and ground the center pin with a jumper wire and crank
the engine, the car starts every time...

This tells me the NSSS harness is good...

When I replace the 3 pin harness back on the NSSS
it won't start..

When I use a voltmeter and jump the center pin on the harness
to the to the center pin on the NSSS, with the car in park or Neutral. It will randomly show voltage (and crank over sometimes)

I believe it is the "Lever" in the transmission is either not
making contact or is making poor contact with the NSSS to ground it.

Does anyone have any experience with this?
How do you fix / replace this lever?
Am I going about this wrong?
(am I asking to many questions? )

Any help would be appreciated? Thanks!

1. Have you made sure the shift linkages to the column are adjusted right? They can cause your problem(s). Without starting the car, shift it through the gears making sure the tranny lever is in the correct position(s).

2. Do you have the correct tranny lever? Length does make a difference

1. Yes gearshift selector reads normal for PRND21
2. All linkage/levers are factory original.

3. Steering column is original as well...

I had a new safety neutral switch on mine from NAPA and it was bad, there is a lot of bad parts now since they are all made in China are India. I replaced nearly all the the electric parts on mine since I got it going and they were all new. Good Luck Ronnie

How do you ground the shift lever?

The internal shift lever (roostercomb) is grounded through the case which is grounded through the block which should have the negative battery cable attached. When the shifter is in Park or Neutral the center pin of the NSS is in contact with the roostercomb and that's what supplies a ground for the starter relay.

If, for some reason, the roostercomb isn't getting grounded you can hook an jumper from the external shift lever to a known good ground (negative battery cable) to verify it.

Thanks for the input...I'll check this and re-post!