Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem?

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 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

<mindfulnessnow.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
> work today.
>
> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
> into reverse or drive.
>
> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
> long has this been going on?
>
> The manual says this is an indication that something is going wrong
> with the transmission.
>
> What should I expect when I take it into the shop on Monday?
>
> I bought Honda because it is supposed to be so reliable. Having a
> problem like this one year in, isn't a good sign...
>

Those clever little Nip spin-meisters ! They've had everyone fooled for the
last 25 years--- selling all those rice burners that fall apart two weeks
after the warranty ends and no one but you sees through them!

On that transmission release key slot, that was a specially installed
feature on your car only. Ya' see when the salesman entered your order, he
ticked the box for "Buyer is a whiney nitwit, " So the guys in the back
dropped in a defective tranny with release slot....
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article
> <bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320.TakeThisOut@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
> mindfulnessnow.TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
>> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
>> work today.
>>
>> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
>> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
>> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
>> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
>> into reverse or drive.
>>
>> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
>> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
>> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
>> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
>> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
>> long has this been going on?
>
> Um....let's see.....over 20 years now, ever since 60 Minutes
> manufactured the Audi "problem" so they could sell advertising.

They didn't manufacture the problem. They reported it. And, I think,
having the lock is a good idea.

> You never, ever noticed this before? You never read your owner's
> manual? You never wondered "gee, why do I have to put my foot on the
> brake just so I can pull it out of Park?" You never heard the "click"
> as you put your foot on the brake, the sound of the trans lock solenoid
> releasing?

I have never heard the click, myself, when I drive an automatic.

>> The manual says this is an indication that something is going wrong
>> with the transmission.
>
> Quote that for us, please.
>
> It's MUCH more likely a problem with the brake pedal switch.

That's true. It can also be a problem with the solenoid, the wiring or
operator error.

Jeff
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <LBZoj.214$xE.131@trnddc01>, Jeff <kidsdoc2000 DeleteThis @hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>> Um....let's see.....over 20 years now, ever since 60 Minutes
>>> manufactured the Audi "problem" so they could sell advertising.
>> They didn't manufacture the problem. They reported it.
>
> No, they manufactured it.
>
> Such has been demonstrated since, by experts in the field who don't have
> yellow journalism to deliver.

Your evidence, please.
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

On 2/2/2008 6:45 AM Jeff spake these words of knowledge:

> Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>> In article
>> <bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320 DeleteThis @f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>> mindfulnessnow DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
>>> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
>>> work today.
>>>
>>> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
>>> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
>>> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
>>> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
>>> into reverse or drive.
>>>
>>> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
>>> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
>>> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
>>> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
>>> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
>>> long has this been going on?
>>
>> Um....let's see.....over 20 years now, ever since 60 Minutes
>> manufactured the Audi "problem" so they could sell advertising.
>
> They didn't manufacture the problem. They reported it. And, I think,
> having the lock is a good idea.

I personally owned a 1979 Audi 5000S, and a little later a 1980 Audi
5000S. As a result, I got to know a fair number of other Audi owners
and drivers. I never once had a problem, nor did I ever hear of anyone
else who had a problem with 'unintended acceleration' outside of the
news stories.

This is anecdotal, I understand. But it seemed clear to me that there
wasn't any problem with the cars; the problem, if it existed, was with
the drivers. It seemed to me.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
"So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for
people to work." -- Peter Drucker
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:53:23 -0600, Dave Kelsen
<invalid.RemoveThis@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On 2/2/2008 6:45 AM Jeff spake these words of knowledge:
>
>> Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>>> In article
>>> <bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320.RemoveThis@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>>> mindfulnessnow.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
>>>> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
>>>> work today.
>>>>
>>>> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
>>>> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
>>>> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
>>>> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
>>>> into reverse or drive.
>>>>
>>>> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
>>>> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
>>>> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
>>>> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
>>>> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
>>>> long has this been going on?
>>>
>>> Um....let's see.....over 20 years now, ever since 60 Minutes
>>> manufactured the Audi "problem" so they could sell advertising.
>>
>> They didn't manufacture the problem. They reported it. And, I think,
>> having the lock is a good idea.
>
>I personally owned a 1979 Audi 5000S, and a little later a 1980 Audi
>5000S. As a result, I got to know a fair number of other Audi owners
>and drivers. I never once had a problem, nor did I ever hear of anyone
>else who had a problem with 'unintended acceleration' outside of the
>news stories.
>
>This is anecdotal, I understand. But it seemed clear to me that there
>wasn't any problem with the cars; the problem, if it existed, was with
>the drivers. It seemed to me.

It may well have been the drivers - probably was. But that is scant
consolation when you just crushed your kid to death.

Based on the frequency which this type of accident occurred with the
5000, something was wrong with it. Might have been 100% ergonomic but
there was a problem and it wasn't unique to Audi. The shift interlock
was a good solution. Cheap, effective and it in no way interferes
with normal operation of the car (barring mechanical failure which can
occur with any system in the vehicle). Note that unintended
acceleration accidents have practically disappeared from the news. How
many lives have been saved by the 60 Minutes expose, even if the
actual cause was not strictly mechanical?

Some people just like to bitch and moan about how this is
idiot-proofing, but as long as we are allowing idiots to drive cars...
If this (idiot-proofing) is really such a problem, we should ban
automatic transmissions altogether. If you are too stupid,
incapacitated or uncoordinated to drive a manual transmission, take
the bus.
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

Gordon McGrew wrote:
> On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:53:23 -0600, Dave Kelsen
> <invalid DeleteThis @invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 2/2/2008 6:45 AM Jeff spake these words of knowledge:
>>
>>> Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
>>>> In article
>>>> <bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320 DeleteThis @f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>>>> mindfulnessnow DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
>>>>> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
>>>>> work today.
>>>>>
>>>>> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
>>>>> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
>>>>> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
>>>>> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
>>>>> into reverse or drive.
>>>>>
>>>>> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
>>>>> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
>>>>> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
>>>>> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
>>>>> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
>>>>> long has this been going on?
>>>> Um....let's see.....over 20 years now, ever since 60 Minutes
>>>> manufactured the Audi "problem" so they could sell advertising.
>>> They didn't manufacture the problem. They reported it. And, I think,
>>> having the lock is a good idea.
>> I personally owned a 1979 Audi 5000S, and a little later a 1980 Audi
>> 5000S. As a result, I got to know a fair number of other Audi owners
>> and drivers. I never once had a problem, nor did I ever hear of anyone
>> else who had a problem with 'unintended acceleration' outside of the
>> news stories.
>>
>> This is anecdotal, I understand. But it seemed clear to me that there
>> wasn't any problem with the cars; the problem, if it existed, was with
>> the drivers. It seemed to me.
>
> It may well have been the drivers - probably was. But that is scant
> consolation when you just crushed your kid to death.
>
> Based on the frequency which this type of accident occurred with the
> 5000, something was wrong with it. Might have been 100% ergonomic but
> there was a problem and it wasn't unique to Audi. The shift interlock
> was a good solution.

no it wasn't. the only way the engine can rev, outside of the throttle
being pressed, is by a malfunction in the idle control system. and a
shift interlock does damn-all to address this.


> Cheap, effective and it in no way interferes
> with normal operation of the car (barring mechanical failure which can
> occur with any system in the vehicle). Note that unintended
> acceleration accidents have practically disappeared from the news. How
> many lives have been saved by the 60 Minutes expose, even if the
> actual cause was not strictly mechanical?
>
> Some people just like to bitch and moan about how this is
> idiot-proofing, but as long as we are allowing idiots to drive cars...
> If this (idiot-proofing) is really such a problem, we should ban
> automatic transmissions altogether. If you are too stupid,
> incapacitated or uncoordinated to drive a manual transmission, take
> the bus.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

On 2/2/2008 9:52 AM Gordon McGrew spake these words of knowledge:

> On Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:53:23 -0600, Dave Kelsen
> <invalid.TakeThisOut@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
<snip>

>>
>>I personally owned a 1979 Audi 5000S, and a little later a 1980 Audi
>>5000S. As a result, I got to know a fair number of other Audi owners
>>and drivers. I never once had a problem, nor did I ever hear of anyone
>>else who had a problem with 'unintended acceleration' outside of the
>>news stories.
>>
>>This is anecdotal, I understand. But it seemed clear to me that there
>>wasn't any problem with the cars; the problem, if it existed, was with
>>the drivers. It seemed to me.
>
> It may well have been the drivers - probably was. But that is scant
> consolation when you just crushed your kid to death.
>
> Based on the frequency which this type of accident occurred with the
> 5000, something was wrong with it. Might have been 100% ergonomic but
> there was a problem and it wasn't unique to Audi. The shift interlock
> was a good solution. Cheap, effective and it in no way interferes
> with normal operation of the car (barring mechanical failure which can
> occur with any system in the vehicle). Note that unintended
> acceleration accidents have practically disappeared from the news. How
> many lives have been saved by the 60 Minutes expose, even if the
> actual cause was not strictly mechanical?
>
> Some people just like to bitch and moan about how this is
> idiot-proofing, but as long as we are allowing idiots to drive cars...
> If this (idiot-proofing) is really such a problem, we should ban
> automatic transmissions altogether. If you are too stupid,
> incapacitated or uncoordinated to drive a manual transmission, take
> the bus.

I can't really argue with that, Gordon; I can't really see that it's
hurt anything, after all. I do note that unintended acceleration
accidents were not prevalent in the news for the 70 or so years of
driving before the interlock either, except for the brief flurry of Audi
stories and lawsuits.

RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being
overwhelmed by the tribe. To be your own man is hard business. If you
try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price
is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -- Rudyard
Kipling
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

On 2/1/08 8:59 PM, in article
bcb7635f-309c-4f6f-8bb2-37f4e8bfd320.RemoveThis@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com,
"mindfulnessnow@gmail.com" <mindfulnessnow.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, I just had my 2007 Civic lock itself in park several times and I
> was barely able to get it back to Drive so I could get to and from
> work today.
>
> I dug through the manual and found the little trick called the Shift
> Lock Release, which is a little slot right above the shift lever. You
> remove this cover - about 1/8" x 3/4" and push the key into it and
> then you can move the lever into neutral, start the car, then put it
> into reverse or drive.
>
> My question is, how common is this problem, what causes it, and why is
> it SO common that Honda even put this little slot there so you can
> deal with the problem relatively easily? Apparently this is a problem
> they have been having for some time, so they invented this little slot
> to help the owner over-ride the problem at least temporarily. So how
> long has this been going on?
>
> The manual says this is an indication that something is going wrong
> with the transmission.
>
> What should I expect when I take it into the shop on Monday?
>
> I bought Honda because it is supposed to be so reliable. Having a
> problem like this one year in, isn't a good sign...
>

Be glad you have a Honda with the slot. On a Nissan, you have to remove the
entire trim piece around the shifter and then guess at what to prod with a
screwdriver to get it to move.

The problem is a stuck shift lock. The cure will either be a simple
adjustment of the switch on the brake pedal that releases it or maybe
replacement of a part.

Should be quick and easy repair. Has nothing to do with the transmission
itself and the warranty should cover it --- unless its "Pepsi Syndrome".
You didn't perchance spill a drink in there to gum it up?
 >> Stay informed about: Civic stuck in park - what's the deal with this problem? 

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