1990 honda accord

I couldnt get the shifter to move out of park, i kept pressing the brake and it eventually worked

 

shifter safety neutral interlock switch. i forget the exact name, but that's what it is. it senses the car in P and either lets you move in or out accordingly. the contacts wear out over time and it needs to be either regreased with dielectric grease or replaced. cheap. $40-ish at your local dealer.

i'll take my cookie later.

 

next time it happens make sure the brake lites work,, i have seen a lot of brake switches cause the problem you are having,,
if no brake lites install new switch located at brake pedal under dash..

 

Either the brake lamp switch has become mis-adjusted (that 11.5 aaa gunboat that encompasses your foot waving around under the dash ) or is about to fail.
The switch performs two functions: the first (of course) is operating the brake lamps. The second is operating the shift interlock solenoid located on the shift control mechanism.
If it should become totally inop, check the brake fuse first. If ok, check the brake lamp switch and then lastly, the solenoid if the switch passes muster,

P