Why won't my engine start on neutral at 50+ MPH?
 

One time I tried turning off my engine on the freeway to coast down a very long slight decline and I couldn't get my engine to start up again at high speed, ended up having to pull to the emergency shoulder (complete stop) to start up again on drive.

Why?

I've never had that kind of problem. What kind of car do you have?

If you put your car in park by mistake, or if you moved the lever even close to the park position, your car will still coast, but it will not restart.

Does it start in neutral when you are not moving?

If it's an Auto the answer will most likely be yes. Mine does.

Never Assume.

I'm still surprised that people are trying this technique on the road, without learning their vehicles' specifics in advance.

BBsGarage pointed out the obvious: you need to know if your vehicle can be started in neutral. Some can't be.

It sure as hell can! I do it all the time at stoplights! And its an automatic 05 Toyota corolla LE we're talkin about here...

Maybe it was a freak thing.... I guess I'll try it again sometime and see if I can't get it to start up again at high speed :/

I had rented a Pickup for yardwork and had EOC's in N to a stop.
I could NOT start the truck in N - had to shift to park to start it.
was a Ford 250 P-up.

When you start in neutral at a light, is your foot on the brake?

Come to think of it,yes, yes it usually is...

I'll have to try doing it without pressing the break and see if it works or not, if not, that means I can't be shutting my engine down on the freeway :/

I tried my 06 rolla last night and it does start in neutral and no brake.
I didnt try it when moving though.
I know some cars you need to be on the brake as well as 'P' or 'N'

Or it could be that you really were not in neutral.

maybe give it a try at lower speeds with no traffic around.

I tested EOCing my auto 05 Corolla this morning in the parking lot at work and forgot to take it out of drive. I did the quick off-on and the engine was back on immediately. I'll test it again at lunch actually in N.

Where in Jersey are you?

I commute 80 east and 287 north.

Right now I commute Parkway - Rt 3, hopefully soon I'll hear that my commute has moved to 24 - 287. *keepingfingerscrossed*

depending on the direction it may not be much better.

I had the same problem with a Canadian-spec Chrysler 300. It would not start, in Neutral, above a certain speed. I'm not sure if that's a Country-specific safety feature or something. The 300's here don't have that problem...

RH77

From what I hear, its a bit slow in the AM but fine later. I'll either find out first hand or it'll be a moot point, but the job would be better.

Good ole' old cars not having this problem :D

It might be what RH77 said. I know the corolla is made in canada.

I think it's a safety thing for the transmission. When you put it back in drive over say, 30mph, the car still thinks it should be started in first gear. so at 55mph it shifts into first gear, instantly knows it's wrong, and engages 4th. This is bad for the transmission. Some cars don't have this problem, but the majority of them do.

Better jobs are better :D :thumbup:

Good luck with that.