Honda Accord (1991) Gear Shift Problem.... HELP!
08-08-2007, 01:27 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Liberty, MO, U.S.A.
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Honda Accord (1991) Gear Shift Problem.... HELP!
I have a 1991 Honda Accord EX 4 Door, Automatic.
In the past couple weeks, I have begun having problems getting the gear shift in AND out of park.
When moving the gear shift from any other gear.....drive, neutral, reverse, and the other drive gears.....the gear shift moves normal and smooth. When putting the gear shift into park, however, it's incredible hard! It takes a lot of force to get it out of park. It takes twice as much force to get it back into park. Sometimes I have to move the gear shift clear down to the other drive type and then quickly shove it into park to get it to go in.
I have now taken the top of the gear shift off and the plastic console piece off and I can see down into the whole gear shift area with all of the parts that make the thing work. I've had the car on and with a friend of mine, we spent a couple hours last night putting the car in and out of park trying to watch where and how it's getting stuck and we cannot seem to figure it out!!
I'm hoping SOMEONE out there has a suggestion for what could be keeping the shift from moving in and out of park. I have my Hanes manual and it explains the parts into some bits, but it doesn't really have trouble shooting specific to my particular problem.
Whaat could it be that is making this thing so hard to get in and out of park?
IF anyone has an idea and can help? I would greatly appreciate it!! I'm disabled and make very little money so I'm trying my darndest to do this myself with the help of a friend.
Also, I hate to make someone break it down this way, but if you do reply, can you please put the info and/or explanation into rough layman's terms (hope I spelled Layman right LOL). I'm certainly no auto mechanic so I don't know all the technical names for everything. With some things mentioned I can look up the names of the parts that are labled in the manual.
Thank you SO much for having this site. I'll keep checking back to see any replies.
In the past couple weeks, I have begun having problems getting the gear shift in AND out of park.
When moving the gear shift from any other gear.....drive, neutral, reverse, and the other drive gears.....the gear shift moves normal and smooth. When putting the gear shift into park, however, it's incredible hard! It takes a lot of force to get it out of park. It takes twice as much force to get it back into park. Sometimes I have to move the gear shift clear down to the other drive type and then quickly shove it into park to get it to go in.
I have now taken the top of the gear shift off and the plastic console piece off and I can see down into the whole gear shift area with all of the parts that make the thing work. I've had the car on and with a friend of mine, we spent a couple hours last night putting the car in and out of park trying to watch where and how it's getting stuck and we cannot seem to figure it out!!
I'm hoping SOMEONE out there has a suggestion for what could be keeping the shift from moving in and out of park. I have my Hanes manual and it explains the parts into some bits, but it doesn't really have trouble shooting specific to my particular problem.
Whaat could it be that is making this thing so hard to get in and out of park?
IF anyone has an idea and can help? I would greatly appreciate it!! I'm disabled and make very little money so I'm trying my darndest to do this myself with the help of a friend.
Also, I hate to make someone break it down this way, but if you do reply, can you please put the info and/or explanation into rough layman's terms (hope I spelled Layman right LOL). I'm certainly no auto mechanic so I don't know all the technical names for everything. With some things mentioned I can look up the names of the parts that are labled in the manual.
Thank you SO much for having this site. I'll keep checking back to see any replies.
08-08-2007, 05:04 AM
#2
Re: Honda Accord (1991) Gear Shift Problem.... HELP! (CalamaT)
If it were the brake/shift interlock, then you'd have trouble getting it OUT of Park, but it would go into park OK. Down alongside the shift lever there's a place to insert a key or screwdriver to release the shift lever. Try that, but I bet it doesn't help.
My first guess is a sticky/rusty shift cable. Sorta straightforward to replace but you say you're disabled... Have to crawl around underneath the car to get the other end of the cable attached underneath the tranny.
My first guess is a sticky/rusty shift cable. Sorta straightforward to replace but you say you're disabled... Have to crawl around underneath the car to get the other end of the cable attached underneath the tranny.
08-08-2007, 05:51 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Liberty, MO, U.S.A.
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Honda Accord (JimBlake)
Hello Jim! Thank you so very much for your reply. I really appreciate it.
Ok, the first part you mentioned about the brake/shift interlock, that's actually the first thing my friend and I tried to take a look at. I had always seen the spot there for a key or straight item to put in there but never understood or knew what it was for till now. That's definitely not the problem. It is working normally and does not cause the shift to stick coming in our out of park. When you depress the brake, that lever that would normally be pressed by a key, actually goes down on it's own. So, true true, if it was broke or stuck it would certainly hinder moving the gear out of park.
As far as the sticky/rusty shift cable, I'm wondering about that a bit. Do you think that all gears would be difficult to get into though? If it was sticky/rusty would I pehaps notice some hesitancy while moving between any gear? I see that the cable that goes under the console normally and then forward into the metal frame of the car that it has protective coverings. Where would the rust be at if there was? That might be a stupid question, so sorry for asking LOL But just grabbing ideas.
Aside from those, here's the other thing I'm noticing that maybe can help you all to help me.
With console and top of the gear shift and square plastic area (the one that has the P, R, N, D, etc on it) lifted, exposing all the inner workings, there's a notched metal piece that a very small metal cylinderical shaped piece that slides along the notches. There's a screw and nut that is located further up from that cylinder piece and it rotates (for lack of better term) to allow that small cylinder to move up and down.
Now, all of the notches for each gear are the same size except the last notch before it slides into park. That notch is much taller than the others so that cylinder has to rise up taller to get over that notch. I have used WD 40 on that area with the nut and bolt that allow the cylinder to raise and lower in hopes that if it was sticky, it would loosen but I have seen no good results.
I HOPE I'm painting some of a picture of the area I'm talking about (doin the best I can with my own layman terms LOL).
Is there any other ideas on what I'm talking about? Other things that could be sticking, need adjusted?
The problem seems straight forward, but I'm sort of at a loss at the moment.
Thank you again for your time! Take care.
Ok, the first part you mentioned about the brake/shift interlock, that's actually the first thing my friend and I tried to take a look at. I had always seen the spot there for a key or straight item to put in there but never understood or knew what it was for till now. That's definitely not the problem. It is working normally and does not cause the shift to stick coming in our out of park. When you depress the brake, that lever that would normally be pressed by a key, actually goes down on it's own. So, true true, if it was broke or stuck it would certainly hinder moving the gear out of park.
As far as the sticky/rusty shift cable, I'm wondering about that a bit. Do you think that all gears would be difficult to get into though? If it was sticky/rusty would I pehaps notice some hesitancy while moving between any gear? I see that the cable that goes under the console normally and then forward into the metal frame of the car that it has protective coverings. Where would the rust be at if there was? That might be a stupid question, so sorry for asking LOL But just grabbing ideas.
Aside from those, here's the other thing I'm noticing that maybe can help you all to help me.
With console and top of the gear shift and square plastic area (the one that has the P, R, N, D, etc on it) lifted, exposing all the inner workings, there's a notched metal piece that a very small metal cylinderical shaped piece that slides along the notches. There's a screw and nut that is located further up from that cylinder piece and it rotates (for lack of better term) to allow that small cylinder to move up and down.
Now, all of the notches for each gear are the same size except the last notch before it slides into park. That notch is much taller than the others so that cylinder has to rise up taller to get over that notch. I have used WD 40 on that area with the nut and bolt that allow the cylinder to raise and lower in hopes that if it was sticky, it would loosen but I have seen no good results.
I HOPE I'm painting some of a picture of the area I'm talking about (doin the best I can with my own layman terms LOL).
Is there any other ideas on what I'm talking about? Other things that could be sticking, need adjusted?
The problem seems straight forward, but I'm sort of at a loss at the moment.
Thank you again for your time! Take care.
08-08-2007, 08:29 AM
#4
Re: Honda Accord (CalamaT)
Yeah, I know what you mean. The little spring-loaded thing that creates the detents that you feel when shifting. There's a stronger detent at Park.
If you think that's it, look for something obstructing that stuff from moving. WD-40 won't be very good, try some white lithium grease. Better yet, see what you can dismantle without letting springs fly all over the place.
To rule out a sticky cable, you can try 2 different things. Put it in park where it would stick. Then watch closely while you move it a little bit, especially watch where the cable is attached. If the cable is sticky, you'll see the lever move a bit until it can't move the cable. If that doesn't work, unbolt the end of the cable from the stick & see whether the stick moves freely when it's not attached to the cable.
I'm not sure how to explain taking it apart. This ('91) looks a bit different than my '98.
If you think that's it, look for something obstructing that stuff from moving. WD-40 won't be very good, try some white lithium grease. Better yet, see what you can dismantle without letting springs fly all over the place.
To rule out a sticky cable, you can try 2 different things. Put it in park where it would stick. Then watch closely while you move it a little bit, especially watch where the cable is attached. If the cable is sticky, you'll see the lever move a bit until it can't move the cable. If that doesn't work, unbolt the end of the cable from the stick & see whether the stick moves freely when it's not attached to the cable.
I'm not sure how to explain taking it apart. This ('91) looks a bit different than my '98.
08-10-2007, 01:51 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Liberty, MO, U.S.A.
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Honda Accord (JimBlake)
Thank you so much Jim!
WOW, yanno a picture like that with diagram (even names of parts) is what I was really looking for the other morning. I just didn't know how to find it.
Well, I truly hate to say this, but I absolutely, positively gave up on the whole thing. What I didn't mention in this site (cause I posted in HondaHookup.com as well about issues) is that both the inner and outer CV boots on the front right side are in horrid shape. There's holes in both. I fought with issues with that while working on the gear shift, the current insane heat right now here in Kansas City, plus my typical pains from health issues, my darn car being all metric when most of what I own is standard tools and not completely knowing what I'm doing, I had to give this mess up. ::sighs::
I DO really appreciate your help and input Jim. I do believe that with what you gave for information and assistance, I could have gotten this gear shift fixed and working.
I'm going to try to talk with a local repair shop and see if somehow they'll help get my car fixed but also work with me because of my low income. There's just GOT to be someone out there who will understand. I will help with the labor costs somehow, I'm just not sure what!
Take care Jim and thanks a million
WOW, yanno a picture like that with diagram (even names of parts) is what I was really looking for the other morning. I just didn't know how to find it.
Well, I truly hate to say this, but I absolutely, positively gave up on the whole thing. What I didn't mention in this site (cause I posted in HondaHookup.com as well about issues) is that both the inner and outer CV boots on the front right side are in horrid shape. There's holes in both. I fought with issues with that while working on the gear shift, the current insane heat right now here in Kansas City, plus my typical pains from health issues, my darn car being all metric when most of what I own is standard tools and not completely knowing what I'm doing, I had to give this mess up. ::sighs::
I DO really appreciate your help and input Jim. I do believe that with what you gave for information and assistance, I could have gotten this gear shift fixed and working.
I'm going to try to talk with a local repair shop and see if somehow they'll help get my car fixed but also work with me because of my low income. There's just GOT to be someone out there who will understand. I will help with the labor costs somehow, I'm just not sure what!
Take care Jim and thanks a million
08-10-2007, 04:26 AM
#6
Re: Honda Accord (CalamaT)
http://www.hondaautomotivepart...h.jsp
Just put in your car's info... Then you'll get the parts names too.
There's a few other dealers that have that stuff on their websites too. I think the pictures come from Honda's electronic parts catalog.
Just put in your car's info... Then you'll get the parts names too.
There's a few other dealers that have that stuff on their websites too. I think the pictures come from Honda's electronic parts catalog.
08-11-2007, 06:10 PM
#7
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: somewhere in, NJ, USA
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Honda Accord (1991) Gear Shift Problem.... HELP! (CalamaT)
i had this problem in both of my cars(92 and 93 honda accord 4 drs) the one it was inside the car and other inside the shift cable on the tranny end take off you center console and check the glider pin on the side that glides as you go into every gear....if it bends even a little park will be hard in and out...ad for the other end you would have to go under the car and take the panel off where the cable enters the tranny(5-6 bolts i believe) relatively easy, then spray some pb breaker in there and keep shifting with the car off while doing it...it should loosen up quite a bit
Trending Topics
08-11-2007, 11:48 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Liberty, MO, U.S.A.
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Honda Accord (bseriescrxsi and Jim)
Heeey guys,
Thanks a ton for the info. Jim? That site was cool! I saved that puppy for further uses. LOL
And Bseries? GLIDER PIN was the name I was lookin for, I think, for that little cylinder shaped gadget that glides over the notches as you move the gear shift. I'll have to remember that.
Thank you!
Well, I found a local repair shop after several phone calls on Friday.
I'm going to take my car to this guy on Monday at 1pm. He said he charges $66 per hour for labor and that he's done SOOO many of these axle/CV boot replacements on these cars that he can most certainly get it fixed in an hour. He said that I could also keep the old axle to return to the store for the $60 recycle fee. WOOT! I'm all happy about this. He seems to be a super nice, legit, honest guy. We talked for nearly an hour and a half! I told him my situation and things and he was very informative about the car and what he could do for me. He'll help me with the broken stud on my wheel, the gear shift and the axle piece and work with me on the cost. THANK GOD!!! So I'm hoping all goes well. I say that because with my luck? I don't trust things LOL NOOOTHING can be straight forward and simple. That would be way too easy! LOL
At any rate, I'll hollar back at ya'll when the car is fixed and let ya know what happened with things and what was the ultimate problem with the gear shift, especially.
Talk to ya in a couple days
Thanks a ton for the info. Jim? That site was cool! I saved that puppy for further uses. LOL
And Bseries? GLIDER PIN was the name I was lookin for, I think, for that little cylinder shaped gadget that glides over the notches as you move the gear shift. I'll have to remember that.
Thank you!Well, I found a local repair shop after several phone calls on Friday.
I'm going to take my car to this guy on Monday at 1pm. He said he charges $66 per hour for labor and that he's done SOOO many of these axle/CV boot replacements on these cars that he can most certainly get it fixed in an hour. He said that I could also keep the old axle to return to the store for the $60 recycle fee. WOOT! I'm all happy about this. He seems to be a super nice, legit, honest guy. We talked for nearly an hour and a half! I told him my situation and things and he was very informative about the car and what he could do for me. He'll help me with the broken stud on my wheel, the gear shift and the axle piece and work with me on the cost. THANK GOD!!! So I'm hoping all goes well. I say that because with my luck? I don't trust things LOL NOOOTHING can be straight forward and simple. That would be way too easy! LOL
At any rate, I'll hollar back at ya'll when the car is fixed and let ya know what happened with things and what was the ultimate problem with the gear shift, especially.
Talk to ya in a couple days
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zakiu
Honda Accord (1990 - 2002)
5
11-13-2004 01:59 PM
