honda (88) accord (dx) locked in park

Only 75k on this oldie. However, drove it into my driveway friday evening
& all was normal. Wife went out sat am & engine fired up fine, steering
wheel released, BUT she couldn't get the trans out of park.. I removed
the front console cover & removed the shift adjuster lock pin. The shift
lever mech is working fine but that shift cable seems to be frozen..
Can't move car very easy with it stuck in park.. I do have the thick
silver Honda SHOP manual for the 88 auto & so far i've found nothing on
my problem. Just lots of FINE diagrams & info on near everything
BESIDES the problem i have with Trans locked in park..
I haven't been able to move car for a month now..It has been very hot
here & getting under car with it parked on big gravel is kinda
difficult.. However, i've been under there & shift cable looks fine..
I removed the cover where shift cable enters the trans. this being
an 88 accord (DX) you cannot see the end connections of the shift
cable after removing the single bolt & dust cover where the shift
cable enters the transmission housing.
CAR is on 4 blocks with all wheels free.. The front wheels are
free & they rotate in opposite directions when either is manually
turned. Saw some info on the internet that pointed
toward some safety interlocks on other models as respects rear
lights so i checked out all rear light functions & all worked fine..
To bypass the shift locked in park it mentioned using the key to
unlock the shift lock.. Sounds good but there is no shift lock
release unlock mechanism on this model 1988 ACCORD (DX)..
SO anyone out there got new ideas that i need to look at.. ITS
no fun owning a nice Honda STUCK IN PARK... I need some new leads
please...GIMME a ph # & i'll call you. thx guys, jim
BOTTLEDOCTORatnetscape.com

bottledoctor wrote:

<snip>

> BUT she couldn't get the trans out of park..

<snip>

> Saw some info on the internet that pointed
> toward some safety interlocks on other models as respects rear
> lights so i checked out all rear light functions & all worked fine..

Including the brake lights?

"bottledoctor" > wrote in message

> Only 75k on this oldie. However, drove it into my driveway friday evening
> & all was normal. Wife went out sat am & engine fired up fine, steering
> wheel released, BUT she couldn't get the trans out of park.. I removed
> the front console cover & removed the shift adjuster lock pin. The shift
> lever mech is working fine but that shift cable seems to be frozen..
> Can't move car very easy with it stuck in park.. I do have the thick
> silver Honda SHOP manual for the 88 auto & so far i've found nothing on
> my problem. Just lots of FINE diagrams & info on near everything
> BESIDES the problem i have with Trans locked in park..
> I haven't been able to move car for a month now..It has been very hot
> here & getting under car with it parked on big gravel is kinda
> difficult.. However, i've been under there & shift cable looks fine..
> I removed the cover where shift cable enters the trans. this being
> an 88 accord (DX) you cannot see the end connections of the shift
> cable after removing the single bolt & dust cover where the shift
> cable enters the transmission housing.

The cable acts as a lever controller for the transaxel control solenoid
valve. I'd overhualed a few of these transmission valves and notice that
these valves tend to get stuck. The cable also releases the parking
paws. Buy any chance that the parking paw mechanisms or the solenoid
is stuck, you will have to remove the transmission end cover (passenger
side, the size of the Pope's cap) while the transmission is still in the car
and a couple engine mount bolts removed. Tilt the transmission downward
on the passenger side.

Open the cover. If what ever is stuck you can probably knock it free
with a light hammer. But if you find that the solenoid valve won't move
then you will have to overhaul the valve. Don't remember exactly, but
simply remove a bolt and slide the valve right out. It happens often,
usually chips of gear metal get lodge in there.

> CAR is on 4 blocks with all wheels free.. The front wheels are
> free & they rotate in opposite directions when either is manually
> turned. Saw some info on the internet that pointed
> toward some safety interlocks on other models as respects rear
> lights so I checked out all rear light functions & all worked fine..
> To bypass the shift locked in park it mentioned using the key to
> unlock the shift lock.. Sounds good but there is no shift lock
> release unlock mechanism on this model 1988 ACCORD (DX)..
> SO anyone out there got new ideas that I need to look at.. ITS
> no fun owning a nice Honda STUCK IN PARK... I need some new leads
> please...GIMME a ph # & i'll call you. thx guys, jim
> BOTTLEDOCTORatnetscape.com

I doubt that the 88 have a shift interlock device.

Brake switch tests out fine also.. jim