90 Accord EX--Putting into any gear

[Dave (archive)]

Lately I've been having a problem getting my accord from park into any gear. The gearshift seems like it is locked in the park position. This happens intermittingly and how I have been getting it in gear is by pressing on the brakes really hard and releasing, or simply leaving it in neutral when I park. I don't have any shifting problems when I'm driving. Any suggestions.

 

[Randolph]

There is a shift lock mechanism that locks the gear shift lever in park unless you press the brakes. This mechanism sometimes acts up either due to a sticky solenoid in the shift lever assembly or because of a flaky switch at the brake pedal. Since "pressing on the brakes really hard and releasing" solves the problem it is likely to be the switch. I am perplexed by the "releasing" part, however. Shouldn't you keep the brake depressed WHILE taking it out of park? That's how it normally works.

 

[Ron]

A freind of mine had a simular problem.... when his car was cold he had great difficulities shiting into any gear....almost like the gear shift was sticky or frozen. After about 30min of driving with the heat on the gear shift would losen up. I'm not sure if this is the exact problem you are describing, but his was fixed by reolacing the "shifter cable" Supposidly the old one was somehow cracked and allowing moisture inside the housing, which was then freezing overnight. I don't know if this would be the same problem you are experincing,.. the other post regarding the shift lock mechanism sounded like a fairly strong posibility to me... but anyway, just in case that was not the problem here is another thougth for you.

There is a shift lock mechanism that locks the gear shift lever in park unless you press the brakes. This mechanism sometimes acts up either due to a sticky solenoid in the shift lever assembly or because of a flaky switch at the brake pedal. Since "pressing on the brakes really hard and releasing" solves the problem it is likely to be the switch. I am perplexed by the "releasing" part, however. Shouldn't you keep the brake depressed WHILE taking it out of park? That's how it normally works.

suggestions.