joeuntiet

When my wife attempts to start the car she gets a message: Shift to P when starting. The car is already in park. The second or sometimes third time she tries it starts. Any ideas on what is causing this? Appreciate any and all help.

Caprica

Likely something in the shifter. Perhaps run the shifter through the gears and back to park with your foot on the brake. Also, have you checked the charge state of the Aux battery? It's little and dies easily and could be causing weird glitches. It doesn't start the engine; only runs the accessories, but if it dies, you are stranded...

SkiMe

Just guessing but maybe there is a pin switch or something on the gear shifter that is not working to tell the car you're in park. May be some small $20 switch?!?

Total guess.

rns

The same happened here as I got call from wife but when I tried everything worked fine as usual. I used tester to check DTCs, no codes.
Park position sensor can be either in the shifter column or in the gearbox as it is cable operated, I haven't checked yet.
... it's in transmission
SENSOR, SHIFT LEVER POSITION 89451-48010

insite4U

Many other posts have dealt with this issue. It is most frequently related to needing a new 12v car battery install. The lack of voltage is sensed and misinterpreted and keeps the care from recognizing drive position. I would start by getting that checked and if it is not absolutely perfect in its capacity replace it.

rns

This is true, sensors are very sensitive to low voltage.

But to mention in my case Rx has Defa block heater with automatic battery tender/charger and battery itself is one year old Optima D51R.
Before the event preheater had been plugged so 12 volt battery was in full charge.
I'll be alert if problem reappears