Why does your car shut off when you park it?

Answer 1

This question makes no sense. Are you trying to say the engine backfires when you shut it off?

** I have a 2000 Silverado 4.3L V6 and every now and again, it cuts off when I put it in park. Initially, I thought that I was "hitting" my keys when I shifted into park. I took all of my keys off (except my truck key) and it still shut off. Any advice would help.

The engine doesnt backfire, it simply shuts off. I can re-start the engine immediately and it runs fine.

A2: There is a starting safety switch to both Park and Neutral. I bet it won't shut off if you simply select N. The switch is probably out of adjustment. I assume you have a column shift. There is a long stem to contact the switch at the bottom of the steering column. When pull, and hold, the shifter all the way CCW to Park, it also disconnects ignition, somehow. When you release it, it goes back to normal. This is why you can restart--you release the handle to turn the key. If you hold the stick back full CCW again, and try to start, and again get no ignition; there is slack in a pushrod or it needs adjustment/switch replacement. My Mom's '78 El Camino got so you had to turn the ignition key realll slowww or it wouldn't start. It was a loose screw at the ignition switch.