Mazda Tribute Transmission Position Sensor (Switch) Replacement at your home or office.

What is the Transmission Position Sensor (Switch) all about?

Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission are designed to start only in park or neutral gears. If a vehicle is able to start in reverse or drive gears, it can unintentionally move, causing damage to property or injuries to occupants or bystanders. For this reason, automakers have developed a safety shutdown called a transmission position sensor or range sensor that cuts the power to the starter control circuit if the vehicle is not in park or neutral. This sensor or switch is typically mounted on the side of the transmission and screws into the body of the transmission to detect in which gear the transmission is engaged. If the driver attempts to start the vehicle when the transmission is engaged in a gear other than park or neutral, power is not distributed to the starter circuit. The vehicle will not crank, preventing unintentional vehicle movement. If the transmission position sensor, or range sensor fails, the vehicle may be able to start while engaged in a drive gear.