Park/Neutral Position Switch Signal Malfunction
Findings, check these first
- Failed park/neutral position switch
- Misadjusted switch after transmission work
- Damaged switch wiring
- Corroded switch connector
- Faulty manual lever detent feel masking the misalignment
Standard procedure
- Confirm crank happens only in Park and Neutral
- Check reverse lamp operation as a switch sanity test
- Inspect switch adjustment and mounting
- Test switch continuity in each position
- Realign or replace the switch per results
Code lookup
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Sources and review
Review: checked against the recorded source material.
- OBDII.pro: P1797 Ford definition
live reference page (obdii.pro)
Supports: Ford-family meaning for P1797: Neutral Switch Circuit Malfunction
Fetched directly. obdii.pro is a publisher independent of the engine-codes family.
- P1797 FORD Code: Meaning, Causes, and Symptoms | OBD2 Codes
live reference page (obd2-codes.co)
Supports: Ford meaning for P1797: Park/Neutral Position Switch Signal Malfunction
Fetched directly. obd2-codes.co phrasing matches the engine-codes family, so it counts as one publisher.
Last updated 2026-09-04.
Report a correction for P1797. Include your vehicle, the issue and a source if you have one.
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