Over the weekend our 1997 Honda Civic sedan developed an interesting problem. After starting the car and pushing on the brake I cannot shift the auto transmission out of Park. So I first have to manually unlock it, shift to Neutral and then start the car. Also the horn is now not working. I checked the horn fuse which was blown and replaced it but upon trying to test the horn the fuse blew again. Any ideas on what the problem could be?
sounds like a electric problem
The problem with the car not shifting out of Park is caused by your blown fuse for the Horn. Here's the logic the car will not shift out of Park unless you have your foot on the brake pedal. the only way the shift interlock system knows you have your foot on the brake pedal is that when you put your foot on the brake pedal the brake lights in the back of the car come on. so if the brake lights are ON then the shift interlock system lets you take the car out of Park. the taillights share the same fuse as the horn. so when the fuse for the horn blows the brake lights don't work. you have to systematically eliminate the components in the circuit to see what's causing the problem. I would do it this way 1) replace the fuse (better have about 5 fuses to do this). then step on the brake and shift the car out of Park. if it works then you can eliminate everything in the brake lights portion of the system because the fuse did not blow. 2) try the horn. again, I know you said it blew when you tested the horn so your problem should be with the horn side but do it just to confirm. if the fuse blows again then you know its the horn circuit that is the problem 3) replace the fuse, then unplug the horn connector. then try the horn again. if the fuse doesn't blow you have a shorted horn. my guess is this is your problem. 3) if the fuse blows then the problem is with the horn relay. you can substitute any like relay in the underhood fuse and relay box for the horn relay and test it. if the horn works and the fuse doesn't blow your problem is a shorted relay. 4) if you find the horn is shorted then you can just remove the connector and drive without the horn until you can get it fixed or, if you can't get to the horn connector (its usually not very easy) then pull the horn relay and at least you'll have brake lights and the shift interlock until you can get the horn replaced I think you'll find its the horn itself. Hope that helps
