Accord - Can't shift out of park

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All of a sudden I can't shift out of park after starting my 1990 Honda Accord LX (Automatic Transmission). I end up having to shut off the engine and then using the Shift Lock Release to manually shift to neutral. Then I can start my car and drive and shift gears without problem. But once I shift back to park the gear locks up again. Any idea what the problem is and what approximate repair cost is??? Thanks a bunch.
Qgoogle
 
Well there's a sensor that unlocks the shifter when you press the brake pedal. Maybe that sensor is malfunctioning. Either that, or your shift-lock solenoid might need to be replaced.

Sean
 
Or more specifically, there is a switch at the brake pedal and a solenoid next to the shift lever. If you remove the trim around the shift lever you'll probably see the solenoid.

On many cars there is also a connection to the ECU that indicates the position of the gas pedal (if you are stepping on the gas, you can not shift out of park on some cars), so the throttle position sensor can be a problem as well.

Start by checking if your brake lights work. If they don't, you can be quite certain that the brake pedal switch is the problem. However, if the brake lights do work, it does not necessarily mean that the brake pedal switch is OK, often separate sets of contacts are used for different functions.
 
Thankyou for all the replies!
I checked the Brake Lights, and they dont work!!
(1) So can i conclude for sure that the brake pedal switch is the problem ? Or is there a possibility that something else might be wrong too! Like some fuse etc ? (2) How much do you think would be the cost to get the brake pedal switch replaced/fixed? Thanks!
QGoogle
 
QGoogle said:
Thankyou for all the replies!
I checked the Brake Lights, and they dont work!!
(1) So can i conclude for sure that the brake pedal switch is the problem ? Or is there a possibility that something else might be wrong too! Like some fuse etc ?
Click to expand...

It certainly could be the fuse. There is usually a diagram on the fuse box lid indicating which fuse is for what. If the brake light fuse is blown, and the replacement fuse blows as soon as you step on the brakes, there is a short in the system, typically a burned out bulb (they sometimes become dead shorts when they burn out).

(2) How much do you think would be the cost to get the brake pedal switch replaced/fixed?
Click to expand...

List price for the switch is around $50 from the dealer. Dealers here in Northern California usually charge 20% above list. Bastards. Labor should be less than half an hour.
 
for some time now i have been having difficulty ( a very stiff action, which seems as i could do damage ) moving my 92 accord coupe auto (101km) gear shift into and out of the park position. I read recently in a news Q/A article about the same thing , but on a CITROEN. the advice was that the gearbox clutches were worn and that to persist in forcing the lever in/ out of park could lead to serious damage to the gearbox and to just drive as normal, but do not put the stick in park has anyone come across this before ?
 
for some time now i have been having difficulty ( a very stiff action, which seems as i could do damage ) moving my 92 accord coupe auto (101km) gear shift into and out of the park position. I read recently in a news Q/A article about the same thing , but on a CITROEN. the advice was that the gearbox clutches were worn and that to persist in forcing the lever in/ out of park could lead to serious damage to the gearbox and to just drive as normal, but do not put the stick in park has anyone come across this before ?
Click to expand...
In most automatic transmissions, there is a 'Parking Pawl' that engages the driveshaft inside the transmission to keep the vehicle from rolling when parked. This condition usually happens when you stop on a slope and place the gear into park. The vehicle rolls a little causing this to bind making it very difficult to get out of park. When stopping and placing the transmission into park, set the parking brake and see if this helps. I kind of remember seeing something to this effect in the owners manual. You might have someone rock the vehicle the next time this happens and see if that helps.

Randy
 
Hello! I had this same problem in my former car, a 1992 Mercury Topaz. I could not shift out of park, and all the brake lights were out.

Note that it might not only be a fuse. In my case, it was a broken and disconnected switch "box" that is underneath the brake pedal. The box is connected to a cable that goes to the brake pedal. The tabs holding this box in place broke, and my foot occasionally dislodged the brake wire, causing the brake lights to malfunction and the shifter to lock up.

I recommend that, until you can get this properly repaired, activate your hazard lights when slowing down for traffic lights and stop signs, to alert drivers behind you. You can turn off your flashers when accelerating.

Paul
 
QGoogle said:
All of a sudden I can't shift out of park after starting my 1990 Honda Accord LX (Automatic Transmission). I end up having to shut off the engine and then using the Shift Lock Release to manually shift to neutral. Then I can start my car and drive and shift gears without problem. But once I shift back to park the gear locks up again. Any idea what the problem is and what approximate repair cost is??? Thanks a bunch.
Qgoogle
Click to expand...
+++++++++++++++

Replace three (or more - read your manual) brake light bulbs after you determine that they are burnt out. Listen for the tiny 'click' when you step on the brake pedal and verify that brake lights now work. You probably need the effective LENGTH of the shift linkage adjusted, to allow shift lever to go in and out of PARK. I don't know if this is done from below, but it's not going to be more than a half hour labor.

The Citroen problem mentioned is on a different (manual w/synchromesh) tranny, built in a different country. Don't get sidetracked.

'Curly'
 
Randy Hunt said:
In most automatic transmissions, there is a 'Parking Pawl' that engages the driveshaft inside the transmission to keep the vehicle from rolling when parked. This condition usually happens when you stop on a slope and place the gear into park. The vehicle rolls a little causing this to bind making it very difficult to get out of park. When stopping and placing the transmission into park, set the parking brake and see if this helps. I kind of remember seeing something to this effect in the owners manual. You might have someone rock the vehicle the next time this happens and see if that helps.

Randy
Click to expand...

You're very right. I was tought by driver training that when parking, to put the car in neutral, pull the parking brake and then release the brake. Let the car come to rest on the parking brake, then put the car in park. This prevent the strain the on tranny that you mentioned.
 
Hey All,
Finally i got my problem fixed! It was indeed the brake pedal switch, as most of you had guessed! I got it fixed from "Express Oil Change" and they charged me $100 for it. [$60 for the switch & $40 for labor] I would also like to thank you, especially since it helped me from not getting fooled by FireStone! I had taken the car to FireStone yesterday, and they said that it is some serious problem and that it would need replacement of the whole gear assembly and that it would be an expensive affair. When i told him that the brake lights dont work, he said that the lights might be broken and that they would replace them as well! So then I also asked him if it could be the switch or the fuse.. that is when he got baffled (on realising that the customer is not as naive and stupid) and he said that it could be a possibility .... In short, dont trust FireStone! This is the second time i have had a bad experience with FireStone.
- QGoogle
 
... In short, dont trust FireStone! This is the second time i have had a bad experience with FireStone.
Click to expand...

its a given not to trust *any* franchise. they arent mechanics- just tire monkeys.
 
Btw, how much do you think it would cost for getting my periodic brake service. Precisely:
- brake pads and
- rollers
Is $250 a good figure for that ?
Tx.,
QGoogle
 
QGoogle said:
Btw, how much do you think it would cost for getting my periodic brake service. Precisely:
- brake pads and
- rollers
Is $250 a good figure for that ?
Click to expand...

unless theyre deeply grooved or warped, you dont need new rotors. $250 isnt a TOTAL ripoff for something like that, although pads are usually under $30, and the unneeded rotors are probably another $60.
 
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