90 Accord EX--Putting into any gear

[Dave]

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.