My hyundai amica 2001 auto - wont start in neutral or park - it happens intermittantly - the gear selector is very stiff - could you advise me to what might be causing this - and how to remedy it - thank you

There are a few ideas here. The car shouldn't start in neutral, it should only start in Park and with foot on the brake. The are a number of sensors, switches and modules that make this happen. Take it to the dealership.

https://www.google.com/search?q=2006+hyundai+sonata+won%27t+start+in+Park

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Is it automatic. Or manual.

Replace the park , neutral safety switch. Eventually it will stop starting in neutral.

It sounds like the neutral safety switch is going bad!

Many cars do have a switch on the gear shift to ensure it will not start if not in park, turn on the reverse lights when in reverse, turn on the camera when in reverse, park lights, etc. Here is an article that mentions it a little bit, http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/154-0805-1987-2001-jeep-cherokee-neutral-safety-switch/.

Does the vehicle have a manual or automatic transmission ? If automatic have you tried moving the gear selector to neutral ? park netural safety switch.

sounds like a linkage problem. when in gear, does the shift indicator look like its in-between gears?

HI Sandra

First let me start with explaining what they mean by " the inhibitor switch" . This device is really called the neutral safety switch. It's called that because the function of this switch is to prevent the vehicle from being started while the shift lever is in drive, reverse or any of the lower gears. Meaning that the car can only be started while the shifter is in park or neutral. This is only a safety device. What your problem sounds like is that this switch is not positioned correctly. When the switch is in the right position it recognizes if the car is in park or neutral or in gear. if adjusted correctly (and it's only a matter of millimeters) the car starts in park or neutral. if it's out of position (which is what your problem sounds like it wont let the car start). All that needs to be done is to position the switch correctly. Of course there is always the outside chance that the switch itself if faulty, still this is far from a costly repair. Go to a transmission shop and tell them you need your safety neutral switch adjusted because the car will not start in park sometimes. This should cost you at the most $30. Unless the switch is bad, the of course it could be as much as $200 to replace. I hope this helps you.

it sounds more like a bad neutral safety switch then anything else.

ya the neutral safety switch would cause that if the car doesnt think its in park or neutral it wont start