Honda Car Forum

89 honda accord wont shift out of park, the brake lights do not come on when
I press on the brake, and the singal for an ajar door comes on when i press
the brake. Did my brakes go out???? Please Help!!!

Are you sure it is the "door ajar" indicator and not the "brake light
failure" indicator? Some model years have that feature, don't know
about the '89.

If the switch at the brake pedal is broken, your brake lights will not
work and the shift lock solenoid will not release, leaving the
transmission stuck in park. On many cars the brake pedal switch is dual
pole, so that some functions (like cruise control cancel) will work even
if the brake lights do not. I would check / replace the brake pedal
switch.

Beachgirl wrote:
>
> 89 honda accord wont shift out of park, the brake lights do not come on when
> I press on the brake, and the singal for an ajar door comes on when i press
> the brake. Did my brakes go out???? Please Help!!!

Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There is a fuse
in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is labeled
Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake system?


"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FBC40DD.8421CD5D@junkmail.com...
> Are you sure it is the "door ajar" indicator and not the "brake light
> failure" indicator? Some model years have that feature, don't know
> about the '89.
>
> If the switch at the brake pedal is broken, your brake lights will not
> work and the shift lock solenoid will not release, leaving the
> transmission stuck in park. On many cars the brake pedal switch is dual
> pole, so that some functions (like cruise control cancel) will work even
> if the brake lights do not. I would check / replace the brake pedal
> switch.
>
> Beachgirl wrote:
> >
> > 89 honda accord wont shift out of park, the brake lights do not come on
when
> > I press on the brake, and the singal for an ajar door comes on when i
press
> > the brake. Did my brakes go out???? Please Help!!!

> Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There is a fuse
> in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is labeled
> Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake system?

I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't work
either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
the brakes?

I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake, then
the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the best way
to locate a short?


"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There is a
fuse
> > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
labeled
> > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake system?
>
> I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't work
> either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
> the brakes?

Same fuse also controls the horn. I place the fuse in without pressing the
pedal and the horn blows, fuse stays intact.

"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:4Lvvb.2401$b91.648@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
> I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake, then
> the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the best
way
> to locate a short?
>
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There is
a
> fuse
> > > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
> labeled
> > > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake system?
> >
> > I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't work
> > either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
> > the brakes?
>
>

The short answer is that tracking down a short is cam be a royal pain in
the butt. In your case we know it is somewhere between the switch at the
brake pedal and the brake lights in the back. I would start by removing
all the brake light bulbs and see if the fuse still blows when you step
on the brakes. Typically there are TWO brake light bulbs on each side
plus the high mount one. Sometimes when bulbs fail they become dead
shorts. If the fuse stays intact when you press on the brake with all
bulbs removed, I would just replace with all new bulbs.

Also check the wiring where it connects to the tail lights. See if the
insulation is worn off so that bare copper can rub against the sheet
metal or anything else that is grounded.

Any time the wire harness passes through a hole in the sheet metal there
is potential for problems. Checked for nicks in the insulation at such
points.

Lastly, if your car has the warning light for broken brake bulbs, that
would be a place to check as well. I believe the control module for that
feature is mounted somewhere in the trunk.

Cracker Jacks wrote:
>
> I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake, then
> the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the best way
> to locate a short?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There is a
> fuse
> > > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
> labeled
> > > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake system?
> >
> > I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't work
> > either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
> > the brakes?

ok heres an update. I tested the brake switch it's good. I removed all bulbs
in the back, fuse still blew. I disconnected both brake light sensors in the
back. Fuse did not blow. Light did not come on and gear shifted out of park
fine. Then I reconnected the right brake sensor fuse did not blow, Light
did not come on and gear shifted out of park fine. Then I reconnected the
left sensor, the fuse blows, light came on and will not leave park. Bad
socket(s), wires, and/or sensor on the left side wouldn't you think?

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FBE9093.27A1B5CF@junkmail.com...
> The short answer is that tracking down a short is cam be a royal pain in
> the butt. In your case we know it is somewhere between the switch at the
> brake pedal and the brake lights in the back. I would start by removing
> all the brake light bulbs and see if the fuse still blows when you step
> on the brakes. Typically there are TWO brake light bulbs on each side
> plus the high mount one. Sometimes when bulbs fail they become dead
> shorts. If the fuse stays intact when you press on the brake with all
> bulbs removed, I would just replace with all new bulbs.
>
> Also check the wiring where it connects to the tail lights. See if the
> insulation is worn off so that bare copper can rub against the sheet
> metal or anything else that is grounded.
>
> Any time the wire harness passes through a hole in the sheet metal there
> is potential for problems. Checked for nicks in the insulation at such
> points.
>
> Lastly, if your car has the warning light for broken brake bulbs, that
> would be a place to check as well. I believe the control module for that
> feature is mounted somewhere in the trunk.
>
> Cracker Jacks wrote:
> >
> > I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake,
then
> > the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the best
way
> > to locate a short?
> >
> > "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > > > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There
is a
> > fuse
> > > > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
> > labeled
> > > > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake
system?
> > >
> > > I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't
work
> > > either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
> > > the brakes?

Left sensor is good I placed it in the right sensor spot...fuse did not
blow.


"Cracker Jacks" <cjacks@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:jrxvb.2519$b91.1970@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
> ok heres an update. I tested the brake switch it's good. I removed all
bulbs
> in the back, fuse still blew. I disconnected both brake light sensors in
the
> back. Fuse did not blow. Light did not come on and gear shifted out of
park
> fine. Then I reconnected the right brake sensor fuse did not blow, Light
> did not come on and gear shifted out of park fine. Then I reconnected the
> left sensor, the fuse blows, light came on and will not leave park. Bad
> socket(s), wires, and/or sensor on the left side wouldn't you think?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FBE9093.27A1B5CF@junkmail.com...
> > The short answer is that tracking down a short is cam be a royal pain in
> > the butt. In your case we know it is somewhere between the switch at the
> > brake pedal and the brake lights in the back. I would start by removing
> > all the brake light bulbs and see if the fuse still blows when you step
> > on the brakes. Typically there are TWO brake light bulbs on each side
> > plus the high mount one. Sometimes when bulbs fail they become dead
> > shorts. If the fuse stays intact when you press on the brake with all
> > bulbs removed, I would just replace with all new bulbs.
> >
> > Also check the wiring where it connects to the tail lights. See if the
> > insulation is worn off so that bare copper can rub against the sheet
> > metal or anything else that is grounded.
> >
> > Any time the wire harness passes through a hole in the sheet metal there
> > is potential for problems. Checked for nicks in the insulation at such
> > points.
> >
> > Lastly, if your car has the warning light for broken brake bulbs, that
> > would be a place to check as well. I believe the control module for that
> > feature is mounted somewhere in the trunk.
> >
> > Cracker Jacks wrote:
> > >
> > > I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake,
> then
> > > the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the
best
> way
> > > to locate a short?
> > >
> > > "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > > > > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There
> is a
> > > fuse
> > > > > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
> > > labeled
> > > > > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake
> system?
> > > >
> > > > I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't
> work
> > > > either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping
on
> > > > the brakes?
>
>

Each brake sensor should have one wire that goes to the brake pedal
switch, one wire that goes to the brake lights, one wire that goes to
the dash indicator light and most likely also a ground wire.

I have the circuit diagram for the '97 Accord (which uses only 1 brake
light sensor) and the wire colors for that year are:

Green with white stripe to brake pedal switch
Green with orange stripe to left brake light
Green with red stripe to right brake light
White with green stripe to dash indicator light
Black to ground.

What you could try is to remove the left brake light sensor and connect
the wire from the brake pedal switch (GRN/WHT in 1997) directly to the
wire to the left brake lights (GRN/ORN in 1997). If the fuse still
blows, the short is somewhere between the left brake sensor socket and
the left brake light.

If the fuse does not blow, the short is most likely in the brake light
sensor itself. You could try to replace it, or simply connect together
the two aforementioned wires permanently (brake lights would work, dash
warning light would not).

Perhaps a simpler test is to remove both brake light sensors and then
plug the one from the right side (which you verified works) into the
socket on the left side. If the fuse stays intact, the sensor that used
to sit on the left side is bad. Fuse blows, the short is between the
sensor and the left brake lights.

At least it is narrowed way down at this point!



Cracker Jacks wrote:
>
> ok heres an update. I tested the brake switch it's good. I removed all bulbs
> in the back, fuse still blew. I disconnected both brake light sensors in the
> back. Fuse did not blow. Light did not come on and gear shifted out of park
> fine. Then I reconnected the right brake sensor fuse did not blow, Light
> did not come on and gear shifted out of park fine. Then I reconnected the
> left sensor, the fuse blows, light came on and will not leave park. Bad
> socket(s), wires, and/or sensor on the left side wouldn't you think?
>
> "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3FBE9093.27A1B5CF@junkmail.com...
> > The short answer is that tracking down a short is cam be a royal pain in
> > the butt. In your case we know it is somewhere between the switch at the
> > brake pedal and the brake lights in the back. I would start by removing
> > all the brake light bulbs and see if the fuse still blows when you step
> > on the brakes. Typically there are TWO brake light bulbs on each side
> > plus the high mount one. Sometimes when bulbs fail they become dead
> > shorts. If the fuse stays intact when you press on the brake with all
> > bulbs removed, I would just replace with all new bulbs.
> >
> > Also check the wiring where it connects to the tail lights. See if the
> > insulation is worn off so that bare copper can rub against the sheet
> > metal or anything else that is grounded.
> >
> > Any time the wire harness passes through a hole in the sheet metal there
> > is potential for problems. Checked for nicks in the insulation at such
> > points.
> >
> > Lastly, if your car has the warning light for broken brake bulbs, that
> > would be a place to check as well. I believe the control module for that
> > feature is mounted somewhere in the trunk.
> >
> > Cracker Jacks wrote:
> > >
> > > I placed the fuse in and it remained intact until I press the brake,
> then
> > > the fuse blew. Short somewhere, trying to track it down. Whats the best
> way
> > > to locate a short?
> > >
> > > "Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3FBD99C9.2F585C36@junkmail.com...
> > > > > Yes odd isn't it? I am wondering if light was wired wrong. There
> is a
> > > fuse
> > > > > in the engine compartment (20amp) that keeps blowing. The fuse is
> > > labeled
> > > > > Stop, Horn, (Seat belt retractors) Is the stop portion brake
> system?
> > > >
> > > > I believe it is. With that fuse blown, the shift lock system won't
> work
> > > > either. Does the fuse blow at random, or only when you are stepping on
> > > > the brakes?