The Magic Accord

SnakeEyeSS · July 9, 2002

I made a mistake(twice),so yes, so I got fired. I accept that.

BUT what I don't accept is how a Accord defied the laws of gravity.

I left a 1999 Honda Accord Automatic in Netural and it rolled backwards(I was parking it). That simple? not quite

I was able to take the keys comepetely out, unless I'm mistaken, most every new Automatice car WILL not allow you to take the keys out unless its in park. If you have a new body style (97 or 98 and up I think)Accord Auto, pelase tell me if you really can, Especially if its a 99.

the BIG PROBLEM:

Th car rolled backwards. Why is this a big deal. Backwards happened to be uphill. Now tell me, how does a car, completely turned off, and in neutral, roll backwards uphill. DO 'I not understand the laws of gravity?

Zane · July 9, 2002

That sucks!

I'm thinking that there might have been something wrong with the car... If you can take the keys out, its in park.

SnakeEyeSS · July 9, 2002

My dad thinks that it may have had a defective transmission.

SnakeEyeSS · July 9, 2002

Join us in Chat! We talking about it now

CMNTMXR81 · July 9, 2002

Me thinks that it being a honduh menas it's defective!

Seriously though, I wonder of the shift linkage could be messed up or something internal was engaged in reverse even though you thought it was in neutral, accord'ing (no pun intended) to the gear selector.

pacodiablo · July 9, 2002

it smelled some rice and wanted to get some??

Shaners · July 9, 2002

If I had to guess, I bet the car can go into neutral and have the key removed so that it can be towed behind an RV.

As far as rolling backwards up hill I have no idea...

Either way, sorry about you losing your job...

Tobes · July 9, 2002

We had a 99 accord and the only way you could remove the keys was if the vehicle was in Park. If you wanted to, your could override the shifter by inserting the key into the "unlocking mechanism" and then shifting where you wanted to shift. I really think that the car had to be in park for the keys to come out. Pretty sure that is a safety feature.

Shaners · July 9, 2002

Tobes is right!!!

This is from the Honda manual for my wifes 2002 Odyssey.

The feature is called "shift lock release".

There is a Shift Lock Release slot on the top of the steering column.

I'm guessing this function was broken on the Accord in question. When this function is engaged, it appears you can move the shift lever without the key in the ignition.

Since the Accord has the center mounted shifter, I bet this feature was probably in the center console somewhere...

The owner of the car may have engaged this feature at one time, and it could have stuck, or become broken, allowing the shifter to be moved without pressing on the brake pedal and not having the keys in the car.

Greg · July 10, 2002

I have no answer for the big problem (rolling up hill), but some (maybe all) Honda's are popular as "toads" for motorhome owners because they can be towed with 4 wheels down and without the keys in the ignition.

I used to have a '66 Impala (283, powerglide, 2dr) and I could remove the key from the ignition in any position. It was handy on cold mornings when making a donut stop on the way to school. Of course, in those days the doors and trunk had a different key than the ignition. The only problem was if I turned the engine off and removed the key, but didn't quite get it turned to the locked position, all it took was a screwdriver to start the car.

Hey, regarding keys, remember the old 1-sided keys? I grew up with GM cars and all the keys went in teeth down, right? When I had a Chrysler company car and later had a Dodge Caravan, I always got screwed up because their standard was teeth up. (OK, I know I'm getting old, you don't have to mention it.)

CityTruck · July 10, 2002

Theory:

Part 1) The key was X-mas tree shaped. (wide at the base and tapered off at the tip). I've had a couple of cars that, by luck of the draw, had a key cut like this. These keys will eventually be removable in almost any car in any gear.

Part2) The car wasn't off. With Honda's, you can't always tell they're running. If you turned the key back, and the key wasn't engaged in the cylindar and you were in a hurry, it may not have turned the car off.

Part3) The car was in Drive. It drove up hill at idle until it struck something at which point the impact flipped the shifter into neutral.

How'd I do? :blush:

SnakeEyeSS · July 10, 2002

Void three, it went up the hill Backwards(maybe you meant reverse)

and two, it was off when we we got to it, the guy needed the keys to start it, which were in the seat, he would let me know if it was ruinning, which it wasn't.

CMNTMXR81 · July 10, 2002

The ignition lock is nothing new. I forget what year it became a standard safety feature on all automobile's but I think it was in the 70's sometimes. All cars nowadays come with this feature. So unless the key and/or ignition switch is stripped, ignition switch broken, or the shift interlock as Shaners mentioned is broken, that key ain't coming out.

Cars in the 60's like Greg's didn't have this feature and you could remove the key at will.

The rolling backwards uphill still has me puzzled though if we eliminate the fact that it may actually still have been in gear.

CityTruck · July 11, 2002

Void three, it went up the hill Backwards(maybe you meant reverse)

and two, it was off when we we got to it, the guy needed the keys to start it, which were in the seat, he would let me know if it was ruinning, which it wasn't.

Dangit :angry:

OK

Theory 2) Someone that doesn't like you, set you up.