Windstar problems My 1998 ford windstar would not start in park has no clicking no cranking all lights and radio work fine but it would start in neutral no problem jumping did nothing did this for about one month then it would not start at all no clicking no cranking took starter out had checked and rebuilt worked fine for about 3 to 4 weeks and same problem any suggestions neutral safety switch possibly

real easy one the brake light switch by the brake pedal is bad. Turn the key foward and put the shifter in N and then start the van!

The vehicle you have was made with a start safety switch,, it will only start in Park or neutral, sometimes that switch has just moved with normal wear and tear ,, and can be aligned again, but if its shorted or damaged it will need replacement, its located at the end of the shift cable located on the top of the transmission,

It sound like your brake light fuse is bad. You can start it by turning the key on don't start it put in neutral now start.

I had the same problem with my 98 and the signal lights switch on the steering column was bad

Why did you need a new battery? Does the engine crank?

do your brake lights come on ? it wont let you shift from park unless it knows your foot is on the brake.

brake lights come on? if the brake pedel switch isnt working it wont let you out of park. also a steep hill can make it hard to move out of park.

You have a "park" interlock that could be failing.
Please Place the gear selector in "N" and see what happens.

Then, Connections at starter selenoid, failing battery terminal (or bad connector). A battery could have a broken plate inside that will not feed power to the starter - sometimes.

Check battery voltage.. If 12.5 or better - ok
Have a helper start the engine while you monitor the battery voltage - if, while in the start position, the voltage drops below 10 volts, replace the battery.

If the battey voltage holds at better than 12 volts, then You try to identify a bad positive cable connection between the battery and the starter as follows":
* Have your helper place the key in the start positition and HOLD IT THERE until the engine turns over.
*If, while in the start positition, engine does not turn over, then you should check for connections at the battery terminal---starter selenoid---selenoid output---starter connection. Again, all with the key in the start position.

If you wiggle/poke/prod a crank out of the starter - then you have identified the problem...

you have to check all fuses with a test light both fuse boxes under hood and under dash... if good next to look for is the light switch itself... has any radio work been done to the lately... if so alot of times hooked up wrong will blow park fuse as one of the wires to radio is the park voltage to tell radio to dim down some

charge battery up 2 amp slow charge,could take 24 hrs,,, put a volt meter of any kind that goes up to 20 volts or more,and it should be charging 13.50 to 14.25 with nothing on then turn ac on and fan on high and head lights on bright it should stay around13.25 to 13.75 if u dont get these readings replace alternator