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I had this problem only once 2 months ago after the car was flooded. Tonight it started again. Transmission locked up in "Park". I can still drive by doing the shift release thing. What should I look for? Why does it lock up? Thanks.
The switch/solenoid that senses, I think it's your brake lights turning on, and releases the "idiot catch" so you can't shift into gear isn't working. First thing I would check is if your brake lights are coming on. If they are either it's a separate switch (I don't know Honda that well) or the relay, or the solenoid that pulls the catch back and allows the gear lever to move.
Do you hear the solenoid "click" when you press the brakes? Probably not.
If you don't already, get your hands on a shop manual, trace out the wiring, if the water didn't get up to the shifter level *probably* the solenoid is OK, maybe the relay is bad, maybe the switch if it's a 2nd switch, which apparently it is.
OK, probably you will find a pushbutton like switch that pushing the brake pedal down allows to pop up. Possible that spraying it with some good contact cleaner will revive it.
But, just as I thought, the problem that you originally wrote up as your "idiot catch" not working with the brake pedal means you don't have any brake lights. Which ain't really safe, you ought to fix.
OK, probably you will find a pushbutton like switch that pushing the brake pedal down allows to pop up. Possible that spraying it with some good contact cleaner will revive it.
But, just as I thought, the problem that you originally wrote up as your "idiot catch" not working with the brake pedal means you don't have any brake lights. Which ain't really safe, you ought to fix.
Is W40 a contact cleaner?
What I do fix? I am hoping it's the brake light switch because it's the only thing I can see and possibly remove. I called 2 places: pep boys and autozone. Pep boys charges $60. Autozone charges $30. I think I will buy from autozone. Is there a way to check the old switch? Thanks so much.
Ask the guys at Autozone for some contact cleaner. If you have WD-40, you *could* try spraying the switch you have with it, maybe you can get it to start working again. You are probably better off taking the switch out of the car (you have another way to get to the parts store than this car, right?) spray it down with WD, see if it cleans up, if not, try some real contact cleaner, I particularly like "Contact Gold" which you can get in 2 small Binaca size cans at Radio Shack.
Yeah, I am talking about the brake light switch, although it's possible that a plug-together connector somewhere probably under the carpet is the actual problem.
How did you fix the turn signal? Look in the same general area for other plug-together connectors.
Again if you can't get the system cleaned up completely, LED type tail/brake lights may help you as they don't require as much current (power) to operate.
The problem turned out to be a blown fuse, less expensive and complicated than I had feared.
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