Excuse me but the point was that it was NOT the switch you refer to because to check the  neutral safety switch you see if it will start in park and neutral and not start in D or lower. There are many comments stating how many members there are but only a few post.  Well, this is my first post and I am getting the feeling that it will be my last.  I was asking for help and what I get is someone trying to make me feel like I'm stupid. If I know how to clean the valve body, I should know where the "little switch inside the plastic housing under the shift lever" is and what the function is.

  Dee

  >that shifter moves all parts correctly at AT.  She starts in P
  > and N not in D or lower. We have a used AT to put in, but want to
  > make sure we have tried everything before we attempt the exchange.
  > We have not attempted the tranny or motor exchange yet on any of our
  > vanagons.

  uh, like it's not supposed to start in anything but P or N. really.
  there's a little switch inside the plastic housing under the shift
  lever to prevent it doing just that. supposed to only start in P, but
  the switch is kinda flakey on that point. ;)

  good luck!
  joel