91 Accord can't shift out of park

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

shawn_jones@live.com - 21 Jan 2009 22:36 GMT

I have a 91 Accord LX that can't shift out of park unless I use the
key to manually release the shift lock.

The problem all started when I left my lights on one day and had to
have the car jumped. When I went to start it, the dash lights started
flickering on/off rapidly, and the shift lock was locking/unlocking
quickly (it also sounded like something was shorting out near the
pedals, and smelled like burned electronics afterwards for a couple
days).

The brake lights still work (all three), and cruise control is
disengaged when I press the brake pedal. However, the accel/decel
functions no longer work on the cruise control.

Does anybody here have any idea what could be causing this? I would
love to be able to fix this myself and save the labor costs of taking
it to the dealer. Thanks in advance.

Reply to this Message

Eternal Searcher - 22 Jan 2009 00:26 GMT

> I have a 91 Accord LX that can't shift out of park unless I use the
> key to manually release the shift lock.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> love to be able to fix this myself and save the labor costs of taking
> it to the dealer. Thanks in advance.

Here's a test: With the vehicle in Park, press on the brake pedal while
somebody else behind the car watches for the brake lights to come on.

If the lights don't come on, the culprit is a worn stop lamp switch.

Reply to this Message

TE Chea - 22 Jan 2009 15:03 GMT

|I have a 91 Accord LX that can't shift out of park unless I use the
| key to manually release the shift lock.

Neither can my SM4's gear*lever, if engine is off. Only when
engine is on, & brake pedal pressed down, can * move out of
park.

| I left my lights on one day

Didn't a beep come on, when driver opened door ?

| have the car jumped.

Engine jump started ? Bad vocab.

Reply to this Message

Woody - 25 Jan 2009 19:26 GMT

Replace the battery, it is probably toast. When the battery looses its
filtering capacity there is a lot of electrical noise on the electrical
system which causes all kinds of problems. Jumpering cars today is dangerous
and can wipe out the electronics. When the battery is discharged you should
connect a charger and charge the battery all the way before starting the
car.

>I have a 91 Accord LX that can't shift out of park unless I use the
> key to manually release the shift lock.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> love to be able to fix this myself and save the labor costs of taking
> it to the dealer. Thanks in advance.

Reply to this Message