At 16, I was driving a lot of vehicles, all starting differently. My '40 Ford-rotate key to unlock steering wheell, ignition switch up, pull choke, push button. Boss's Buick-turn key (unless left in unlock position and no key needed), press accelerator to floor to start; Dad's Studebaker-turn key, press clutch to floor to engage starter, Grandpa's '55 DeSoto-lever to neutral, turn key, and a company '55 Chev pickup-1st edition-turn key and press clutch to floor and hit floor-mounted starter switch with left toe. Being an owl, rather than a lark, I went out to start the pickup one AM and was too sleepy to remember how to start it. I turned the key, floored the gas, floored the clutch , looked for a dash switch--nothing worked. Panic over being late to work caused an adrenaline flow to my pea teen brain and I finally found the big old starter button sticking up out of the floorboard. I later worked in a service station and found the many different methods of starting cars to be fascinating. Today's cars can also be fascinating as one works through the interlocks designed to protect us from ourselves--then heaven help you if you want to turn on headlights or turn on the windshield wiper. I now find the neutral safety switch on my C300 to be fascinating (working ok, but leaking) replacement found on ebay. Not having backup lights, I haven't been exposed to the switch that turns on the backup lights based on transmission system pressure (or lack of it?). Rich Barber C300 Charlie Valentine wrote: >Back in the day, when I was just a young pup,(16) I had my very first car. A >White 1961 Chrysler 300G, 2 door hardtop. >I only had the car a few days when I took it to the car wash and decided to >wash down the engine compartment. It did a fine job. I then washed the car >and all was good. It was time to leave. I got in, put the key in the >ignition, turned the key and nothing happen. I thought that I must have >gotten something too wet under the hood. I opened the hood, looked around >and everything looked okay. I got back in the car and tried and tried. No >luck. The car wash was about 8 blocks away from home. I was going to walk >home and get "good ol dad" to help. He was a mechanic at a Chrysler/Plymouth >dealership and he could always diagnosis, solve and fix any problem that I >had. >I was just about to get out of the car when I looked to the left and saw >that the car was still in DRIVE. I pushed the "N" button in and the ol "G" >started right up. > >Anyway when you said "I'm going to feel REAL STUPID if I find I left it in >gear and that's >why it won't start!" it just brought back that memory that I thought that I >would share. > >Charlie Valentine > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Michael Reed" <mrreed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >To: <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 12:46 PM >Subject: [Chrysler300] Re: Help! > > > > >Thanks to all of you for all the ideas and suggestions on getting >the 300F started. As much experience as I have had w/ autos in my >life, I received a LOT of tips I simply wouldn't have thought of! > >I'm going to feel REAL STUPID if I find I left it in gear and that's >why it won't start! > >I'll post the results of applying all the tips and suggestions, even >it turns out to be the big..... "DUH"!!!! > >What a wonderful tool for 300 owners this listserver is! In four >short weeks it has been of immeasurable benefit to me! > >Mike > > > > > > >To send a message to this group, send an email to: >Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >For list server instructions, go to >http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > >To send a message to this group, send an email to: >Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Autos. Everything you need to know about buying or selling a car. FREE Quotes, 360° Tours, Research, Blue Book, Compare Vehicles, Buy Used http://us.click.yahoo.com/kEZsdA/bwnGAA/YiGOAA/8LmulB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/