1998 Honda Accord LX V6 stuck in "park." Can't put into Drive

[CheapBastardo]

Hope there's a mechanic here who can help me with this problem cuz I really need the car for work 2morrow. I checked for that emergency switch next to the automatic transmission(the one that you can stick your key or screwdriver to dislodge it) but there's nothing. Someone told me it might be related to the brake or the break light, i have no idea. PLZ HELP!

 

[FleshLight]

Put your foot on the brake?

 

[CheapBastardo]

nope, doesn't work.

 

[isasir]

Step on brake, shake steering wheel left and right while trying to put it into gear

 

[TomKazansky]

if all of the above does not work, you might need a new tranny or just new tranny fluid

 

[InlineFive]

If some kids triggered the alarm system I would make sure that it's not armed. That might be the problem.

 

[mrchan]

It probably has something to do with the immobilizer system, so that your car can't be stolen without your key with the chip in it.

If you still can't get it to work, just unplug the negative from the battery for about 10 minutes, should reset everything. Just make sure you have your Radio Anti-Theft key handy.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I had the same problem but I was able to release it using the little slot under the shifter housing. The brake relay was bad. Basically, the car doesn't know you're pressing the brake. Check again, for that slot, I'm 99.99% sure it's on all the accords of that year.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
I had the same problem but I was able to release it using the little slot under the shifter housing. The brake relay was bad. Basically, the car doesn't know you're pressing the brake. Check again, for that slot, I'm 99.99% sure it's on all the accords of that year.

Yeah, there should be a little slot that you can stick your key into near the gearbox. Kind of like the paperclip thing for a CD ROM drive. Try that.

 

[phreakah]

i had this problem with my old civic... fixed it by replacing the brake light fuse

 

[calvinbiss]

Look, the first thing you need to do is check fuses. If a critical fuse has blown, like brakelights, headlights, etc, most park keep you from driving by the the transmission in park. The locking mechanism is typically on the shifter, and can be released with the proper tools. They want to make sure you are not driving around without brakelilghts and such. Check this before you go tranny shopping.

Edit: Got beat!

 

[Papagayo]

Play with the steering wheel as you try to shift.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: calvinbiss
Look, the first thing you need to do is check fuses. If a critical fuse has blown, like brakelights, headlights, etc, most park keep you from driving by the the transmission in park. The locking mechanism is typically on the shifter, and can be released with the proper tools. They want to make sure you are not driving around without brakelilghts and such. Check this before you go tranny shopping.

Edit: Got beat!

God, what an annoying "feature."

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: calvinbiss
Look, the first thing you need to do is check fuses. If a critical fuse has blown, like brakelights, headlights, etc, most park keep you from driving by the the transmission in park. The locking mechanism is typically on the shifter, and can be released with the proper tools. They want to make sure you are not driving around without brakelilghts and such. Check this before you go tranny shopping.

Edit: Got beat!

God, what an annoying "feature."

yup, it was very annoying... first time it happened i was kinda freaked out cause i didnt know why the hell the thing wouldnt let me switch it out of park... then i finally looked through a bunch of fuses and found that the brake light fuse was blown.. phew

 

[CheapBastardo]

First, I changed the brake light fuse and everything seemed to be fine. Then after driving on the freeway for about 40 minutes the light indicator on my accord showed that the brake light crapped out again. I replaced the fuse again and every thing was fine and then the light indicator came up again. So, I took it to the mechanic and I think they replaced the brake light relays. Now everything is ok.

By the way, my honda accord DOESN'T have the safety lock where you can just depress it and put it into gear.

 

[Otaking]

Originally posted by: CheapBastardo
First, I changed the brake light fuse and everything seemed to be fine. Then after driving on the freeway for about 40 minutes the light indicator on my accord showed that the brake light crapped out again. I replaced the fuse again and every thing was fine and then the light indicator came up again. So, I took it to the mechanic and I think they replaced the brake light relays. Now everything is ok.

By the way, my honda accord DOESN'T have the safety lock where you can just depress it and put it into gear.

Good you got it fixed. How much $ to fix?

 

[CheapBastardo]

30 BUCKS!!!!! coulda use that for a week worth of food.

 

[DanJ]

This happened to my mom's 2005 Volvo S40. She spilled a little bit of pop into the gear-shifter, cleaned it up, went inside, came back out and it wouldn't move from park. Had to have Volvo come out and manually release the thing then take it in for service. Shorted the computer they put *directly under the shifter right next to the cup holder.* You'd think they'd have some sort of cover over it.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: DanJ
This happened to my mom's 2005 Volvo S40. She spilled a little bit of pop into the gear-shifter, cleaned it up, went inside, came back out and it wouldn't move from park. Had to have Volvo come out and manually release the thing then take it in for service. Shorted the computer they put *directly under the shifter right next to the cup holder.* You'd think they'd have some sort of cover over it.

Can we swap names?

 

[DanJ]

Originally posted by: DnaJ
Can we swap names?

I think you've asked me this before

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: DanJ

Originally posted by: DnaJ
Can we swap names?

I think you've asked me this before

Whoa.... I alawys thought you guys were the same person

 

[DanJ]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Whoa.... I alawys thought you guys were the same person

What makes you think we're not.

 

[DanJ]

Originally posted by: DnaJ
Can we swap names?

You must be the Dan everyone was fawning over in this thread!:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1599215&enterthread=y

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: DanJ

Originally posted by: DnaJ
Can we swap names?

You must be the Dan everyone was fawning over in this thread!:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1599215&enterthread=y

:Q

I'm touched :heart: