Honda Accord 03 LX 50,000 Miles won't shift out of park - Automatic

Your Brake Light Switch needs to be replaced. I recently had to do the
same thing to my Accord. It affects your brake lights, automatic shift
lock and cruise control. It's a $20.00 fix if you do it yourself.

Good Luck

Chad

 

Sounds like your shift lock solenoid is not working properly. Do you
hear it click (disengage locking mechanism) when you step on the brake
in park?

Professor
Check out FlashAlert at www.telstar-electronics.com

 

Hi,
It all started a couple of days ago. It would take me two or three attempts
to put the car from park (P) into drive (D). The shift lock is stocked as
if I wasn't pressing on the break pedal, but of course I was. If I pressed
the breaks really hard it worked until a few hours ago. In addition the
break lights are not working, they don't light up when the breaks are
pressed.
I checked the Horn/Stop fuse, and it was fine.

I've been reading about the possibility of an interlock switch that signals
the transmission when the breaks are engaged. This switch may be located
below the steering wheel, but that is all I've been able to get from the
web.

Today is Sunday, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to take it to the
dealer, or to the local mechanic. I'll have to use the key to release the
shift lock.

The car is fine otherwise, and the breaks and transmission feel fine as
well.

FYI: I also checked the break fluid level, and it was between MIN and MAX,
so I assume that is not the problem. In addition I have never replaced the
break pads.

Any tips will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Will.

 

Oh, yeah, you've got a bad switch if the brake lights don't come on.
Not a big repair if you have the stealer do it, but you probably could
do it yourself too.

Watch out for getting rear-ended if you drive it.

 

Those two functions are intertwined, in that they use the same brake
(not break) pedal switch.

Replace the switch. You can do it yourself.

 

Brake lights.

Your car has brakes--not breaks. One hopes your car doesn't break.

 

Chad:

Yes, you are correct.
I found the switch, and tighten the connector a bit. basically the break
lights turned on and I was able to shift to drive. Of course this was a
very short-lived victory, because I believe this time the switch is gone
for good. I'll get the part from the dealer tomorrow, and install it
myself.
Thanks Chad.

 

Thanks, so it's brakes not breaks.

 

First of all I misspelled brakes, I wrote breaks. Thanks Elmo P. Shagnasty
for correcting me.

The good news is that I was able to fix the problem. This is what I did:

-Removed Horn/Brake fuse (for safety reasons)

-Disconnected and removed brake-light switch

-Carefully disassembled the brake-light switch (There's a small spring in
there, make sure you don't loose it)

-The copper terminals in the switch were covered with dirt and dust,
preventing the flow of electrons. With a small peace of sand-paper I
removed the dirt from the terminals and made them shine again. Make sure
you don't overdo it.

-Put the switch back together

-Tested the switch with a battery and a CPU fan that I found in my gadget
box. Ideally a multimeter would do, but I did not have one at hand. In fact
there are two switches in this unit, one normally open and the other is
normally closed.

-Installed the brake-light switch back in the car

-Put the fuse back

-Put the key in the ignition, pressed the brake, and the brake light turned
on (Nice to have you back)

-Started the car, pressed on the brake, and shifted from park to drive with
no problem (That is sweet)

I'll buy a replacement just in case the switch acts up again, but at least I
won't be taking time off work to fix this problem like I though I was.

Sorry about all the blah blah
Thanks,
Will.

 

Brakes, brakes, brakes.

Just sayin' --

Paul

:
:
:
:
: Hi,
: It all started a couple of days ago. It would take me two or three
attempts
: to put the car from park (P) into drive (D). The shift lock is stocked as
: if I wasn't pressing on the break pedal, but of course I was. If I pressed
: the breaks really hard it worked until a few hours ago. In addition the
: break lights are not working, they don't light up when the breaks are
: pressed.
: I checked the Horn/Stop fuse, and it was fine.
:
: I've been reading about the possibility of an interlock switch that
signals
: the transmission when the breaks are engaged. This switch may be located
: below the steering wheel, but that is all I've been able to get from the
: web.
:
: Today is Sunday, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to take it to the
: dealer, or to the local mechanic. I'll have to use the key to release the
: shift lock.
:
: The car is fine otherwise, and the breaks and transmission feel fine as
: well.
:
: FYI: I also checked the break fluid level, and it was between MIN and MAX,
: so I assume that is not the problem. In addition I have never replaced the
: break pads.
:
: Any tips will be appreciated.
: Thanks.
:
: Will.

 

take it to the dealer. it's under warranty