What would allow the engine to start in any gear on a vehicle equipped with an auto-shift transmission?

What would allow the engine to start in any gear on a vehicle equipped with an auto-shift transmission?

• A. Shift finger stuck in neutral.
• B. A defective start enable relay.
• C. A defective gear indicator display.
• D. The gear select motor stuck in neutral.

Answer: (B)

Starting in any gear is prevented by a safety interlock in auto-shift transmissions. The engine is only allowed to crank when the transmission is in Park or Neutral, and this is controlled by the start enable relay (and related switches). If that relay malfunctions by sticking closed or bypassing the interlock, the starting circuit can be completed regardless of the current gear. That’s why a defective start enable relay would allow the engine to start in any gear. The other issues wouldn’t inherently bypass the safety circuit: a shift finger stuck in neutral or a defective gear indicator display affects gear sensing or indication, not the starter interlock; a gear selector motor stuck in neutral would simply leave the transmission effectively in neutral and wouldn’t enable starting in a non-neutral gear. The key concept is the start enable relay controlling the Park/Neutral start condition.

Starting in any gear is prevented by a safety interlock in auto-shift transmissions. The engine is only allowed to crank when the transmission is in Park or Neutral, and this is controlled by the start enable relay (and related switches). If that relay malfunctions by sticking closed or bypassing the interlock, the starting circuit can be completed regardless of the current gear. That’s why a defective start enable relay would allow the engine to start in any gear. The other issues wouldn’t inherently bypass the safety circuit: a shift finger stuck in neutral or a defective gear indicator display affects gear sensing or indication, not the starter interlock; a gear selector motor stuck in neutral would simply leave the transmission effectively in neutral and wouldn’t enable starting in a non-neutral gear. The key concept is the start enable relay controlling the Park/Neutral start condition.