Car not cranking the starter

[cornontherob]

(Cross post for visibility)

So I picked up a boxster on a trade. It's a project car so I understand the risk of it. I noticed that the shift cable doesn't always get the car into park, and has to be pulled on the transmission side before the dash registers that it's in park and not a blinking reverse light. So when it finally thinks that it's in park, and it is in park, it won't start. I turn the key and the fans turn off, but no power seems to go to the starter. I tested the starter with an outside current and it cranks fine. I also jumped the battery and fully charged it before I attempted the start. Could this be the immobilizer or the neutral safety switch? Would this throw an engine code? I don't know if it's the immobilizer ecu though because the only symptom is that the car isn't sending power to the starter.
cornontherob is online now Report Post


986 Boxster
1998, tiptronic automatic

[JFP in PA]

The is a combination switch on the Tiptronic that acts as a neutral safety switch amongst other things. If that is not working, the starter will not engage, and the car will not code.

[cornontherob]

So would jumping the terminals of the switch send power to the starter?

[JFP in PA]

Or replacing it. Some times these switches get soaked in oil and quit working. Be careful working around the trans ribbon cable, you do not want to buy a replacement if it gets damaged.