2003 Accord 4-cyl auto problems.

I'm having several problems which I think are related; before I take my
car in to the dealer, I thought I'd ask you folks for a little
information, so I can at least have an idea what's going on.

I have four specific problems.

1.) I have to fiddle with the gearshift lever in order to move it out
of park. This has been so for 6 weeks or so; it's only mildly annoying.

2.) Recently, my cruise control will not stay on. I can push the
button to light the icon on my dash, but it doesn't stay lit, and I
cannot then set the cruise control itself.

3.) My gas mileage appears to have dropped by 15-20%. This is somewhat
spurious, as I need more data. I have only noticed in on the last two
tanksful.

4.) My car has less zip in response to throttle application. Heavy
application still seems fairly good, but ordinary traffic speed
increases are noticeably reticent.


I don't know much, but I suppose that the brake/transmission lock-out
switch is the common problem with 1 and 2. 3 and 4 make me think that
perhaps my brakes are dragging, although I am unable to detect any
specific sound, shudder or other physical indication of such.

I will be taking this to the Honda dealer when I get a chance. Any
ideas or things I should ask about?


Dave Kelsen
--
"Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before
breakfast." -- Lewis Carroll

Dave Kelsen wrote:
> I'm having several problems which I think are related; before I take my
> car in to the dealer, I thought I'd ask you folks for a little
> information, so I can at least have an idea what's going on.
>
> I have four specific problems.
>
> 1.) I have to fiddle with the gearshift lever in order to move it out
> of park. This has been so for 6 weeks or so; it's only mildly annoying.
>
> 2.) Recently, my cruise control will not stay on. I can push the
> button to light the icon on my dash, but it doesn't stay lit, and I
> cannot then set the cruise control itself.
>
> 3.) My gas mileage appears to have dropped by 15-20%. This is somewhat
> spurious, as I need more data. I have only noticed in on the last two
> tanksful.
>
> 4.) My car has less zip in response to throttle application. Heavy
> application still seems fairly good, but ordinary traffic speed
> increases are noticeably reticent.
>
>
> I don't know much, but I suppose that the brake/transmission lock-out
> switch is the common problem with 1 and 2. 3 and 4 make me think that
> perhaps my brakes are dragging, although I am unable to detect any
> specific sound, shudder or other physical indication of such.
>
> I will be taking this to the Honda dealer when I get a chance. Any
> ideas or things I should ask about?
>
>
> Dave Kelsen

you may have a bad earth on the dash wiring. #1 & #2 are definitely bad
circuitry of some kind, and the only thing those two faults have in
common is an earth connection. #3 & #4 could conceivably be connected
as above if there was some kind of noisy circuitry, but you'll have to
eliminate the obvious mechanical candidates first.