On Sat, 18 Feb 2006 12:25:28 -0500, MetalHeadsFXP
<metalheadsfxp@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Lots of times when I turn the car off I cannot remove the key from the
>ignition. I have to fiddle with it and keep trying to get it out. I
>have only had this car this winter and have read some things that
>point it to a cold weather problem but there was not real solution. My
>gear shifter also when it's cold sometimes will lock and I cannot
>shift it to drive etc.....until it warms.....today I reefed a little
>to hard on the shifter and no it doesn't lock at all not even when car
>off and parked.....I aven't been able to get the key out since...any
>idea's? Thanks.


I repost this whenever necessary. The update is that my friend kept
the car for several years after this repair and had no further
problems. Her car is a 90 Accord but there is a chance the same part
number would work on your car. If you have the symptoms (below) I
guarantee that this is your problem. Info on prices and source is out
of date.

(begin repost)

My friend purchased a (transmission) console switch from
www.hparts.com . The part is Honda# 35700-SM4-A91 hpart# 327830 and
the price was $31.63 plus $5.62 S&H. She had a very experienced
amateur install it. He looked at the manual briefly then went out and
installed it in under 20 minutes. It should be pretty straight forward
for anyone with just a little experience, only slightly tricky part is
to adjust it (if necessary) so that the indicator lights match the
shift lever position.

Results: In three days of use at temperatures down to -3 F she has
not had any trouble. Previously the car would always experience the
syndrome until it had been warmed up for at least 20 minutes on even a
moderately cold day.

To recap the symptoms:

- Vehicle is 1990+ Accord with AT (others may be affected also)
- Problem is strongly linked to cold temperatures.
- Key cannot be removed after shifting into P
- Dash indicator light does not indicate "P" even though transmission
lever is positively in P
- Car cannot be shifted out of P after this has happened
- Problem solves itself when the "P" indicator lights which occurs
after a period of time related to the interior temperature of the car.