Hi, When I stop my 2002 accord, place it in park and turn it off, sometimes I cannot remove the key. If I turn the key back on, take the shifter out of park and back in, 100% of the time the key will now come out. I'm pretty sure this started after I had my transmission rebuilt recently as I do not remember it happening before. Any ideas of what could be wrong and a fix?
Thanks!

 

Linkage adjustment?

 

How do I check that and adjust, if necessary. Is this the linkage between the shifter and the switch on the transmission (or elsewhere) that detects what gear it is in and communicates with the ignition?

 

There's a cable from the shift selector lever going forwards to the transmission. Not sure where it's adjusted.

But if the transmission actually shifts properly, the lever selects P-R-N-D etc. correctly, then maybe the cable is OK.

Look at the "park switch" #2. Is it loose? Maybe it's position can be adjusted? I don't have an automatic, so I'm guessing... But that is the switch that says you're in PARK and energizes the solenoid to release the key.

 

Thanks JimBlake. The transmission shifts properly. Never has a problem. I need to check whether the Park light is on when the key won't come out. I assume I have to take the console apart to check the park switch? I can't tell from the diagram where exactly it is. Best

 

One other question. My understanding is that there is a neutral safety switch that detects whether the transmission is in Park or Neutral or NOT and only lets the car start if it is in Park or Neutral. I assume that is a different switch because when the key is stuck and the car is in Park, the car will still start, which means that switch knows the car is in Park, right?

 

Here's 3 things out of the shop manual. Beware, I only have the manual for the 4-cyl Accord, but I suspect this area is the same.

 

I'm not sure about the interlock for starting the car. The park-pin-switch test seems to imply that it only detects the lever in PARK, not neutral. I'm not sure how they do the starter interlock - maybe that's done inside the PCM?

 

That might be the other part of the "park pin".

 

Issue may be due to wiring or connector at the transmission range switch when they re-installed the rebuilt transmission. The transmission range switch is located on the transmission. Check the connector and wiring there first.


Tests of the transmission range switch is possible too.