Ran in neutral (5)
I believe the answer is:
idled
'ran in neutral' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for idled that I've seen before include "Loafed, lazed about" , "pottered" , "(Of an engine) ran slowly out of gear" , "Did little or nothing" , "Was lazy" .)