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

Chad wrote:

> willsanchez80@cox.net wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> 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.
>
>
> 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

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.

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

Chad wrote:

> willsanchez80@cox.net wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> 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.
>
>
> 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

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.

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

Brakes, brakes, brakes.

Just sayin' --

Paul

<willsanchez80@cox.net> wrote in message
news:K9BCe.40347$DC2.8399@okepread01...
:
:
:
:
: 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.

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

Brakes, brakes, brakes.

Just sayin' --

Paul

<willsanchez80@cox.net> wrote in message
news:K9BCe.40347$DC2.8399@okepread01...
:
:
:
:
: 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.

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

take it to the dealer. it's under warranty

<willsanchez80@cox.net> wrote in message
news:K9BCe.40347$DC2.8399@okepread01...
>
>
>
>
> 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.