Recently, my shifter on my 90 Accord (manual transmission) has been getting stuck. The problem seems to occur the most when the temperature is colder. In that case, the shifter can not be moved into gear for several minutes until the car has warmed a little and I've moved it around quite a bit.

Also, reverse seems to be particularly bad. Often I will go to back out of a parking spot and the car will get stuck in reverse. To get out of reverse, I either have to turn the engine off, shift, turn the engine on, or wait and try to massage the shifter into gear. Also, rocking the car slightly can help.

I've read several posts about AT Accords getting stuck in gear, but few about manuals.

Where should I start looking for the problem?

I'm planning to check the cables, but that doesn't seem quite right to me considering the affect the temperature seems to have on the problem.

The transmission fluid has been replaced recently.

 

What type of fluid was put into the trans? 80w90 gear oil is the wrong type of juice.
10w30 or Honda MTF is the 'right stuff'.

 

I believe it was the Honda MTF. The problem actually was occurring before I had the fluid changed. I was hoping that would help, but it didn't.

 

I'll bet a mainshaft bearing is going bad, you might want to throw it in neutral and listen to the trans, use a long screwdriver for a stethoscope, listen for a 'growling' noise.

 

Do you blip the gas before you attempt shifting, you will get the revs up, the gear will catch easier, and it will be easier to shift. Also, all older cars do this when it is really cold out. My brand new accord was hard to shift on the first day below freezing a few weeks ago, the fluid basically needs to warm up. The other thing you can do is pull a vin diesel and double clutch, I had to do that in my 88 Accord LX in the winter time. Also, with your reverse issue, if you are fully stopped it will be easier to shift into reverse than if ur already moving a little, same technique of bliping the gas will help as well.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Interesting. I'll try it.

As far as the reverse, I usually am completely stopped when it's stuck. Sometimes a little rocking will help free it, but I've started to turn off the engine to shift.