93 Accord - AT tight when in PARK

Hey all,

I just purchased a 93 Honda Accord EX with 142K mi. on it. The
condition of the car seems to be fine except for one problem.

When I try to shift from/to PARK, I have to give it a hard tug. The
gear seems to get stuck between Park and the rest of the gears.
I checked the transmission fluid - looks nice and red. I got the trans
fluid checked by a mechanic and he thought it was ok too.

I told the mechanic to check the tight gear and he suggested that it
was probably just some rust and to try WD-40 or something like that. I
did that and it doesnt seem to help. It is possible I did not put it in
the right places.

So, I basically need help in figuring out why my gear is getting
slightly jammed when I try to change it from/to Park. There is no
problem when changing in between the other gears.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rahul

 

This could be way off base, but I wonder if it could be the
transmission shift disable solenoid or whatever is attached to it?
(not sure what its real name is, but the solenoid that that does not
let you get the car out of park unless you press the brake pedal first
- maybe there's something wrong with yours)

Does your car have a slot near the stick where you can insert a key to
override this function?
It would be an easy thing to eliminate by trying it.
Remco

 

Remco:

I do have a slot for a key next to the stick. I have noticed that the
harder I hit the break while changing the gear from park, the less I
have to struggle.

So, you think that by switching that solenoid off, I would not need to
hit the break at all while switching gears?

 

This leads me to believe that the problem is a worn stop lamp switch.

 

Yes - well, you wouldn't switch the solenoid off but engage the lever
that the solenoid normally engages. Put a key in that slot and see if
it becomes easier to move the stick.

It could be the switch on the brake pedal, so check if your brake light
functions normally. If not, it could be the solenoid itself or a
connection to that solenoid. You may need to remove the cover that
surrounds the stick.

Remco

 

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Get the shifter linkage adjusted. It will get WAY worse in winter. It's
a simple adjustment. You need to find a mechanic who has worked on Hondas.

'Curly'