Auto trans gear shift stuck and clicking

[db_crisp]

Hello,

We have a 2000 CRV (auto). The car starts perfectly BUT when i put my foot on the brake to take it from P into R there is a really loud persistent clicking sound and the gear stick will not move. The car is idling but the gear stick stays completely stuck in Park. After 1-2 minutes of turning the steering wheel (all the whilst still stuck in Park) it will still make the clicking sound and the stick is completely locked but if i keep rotating the steering wheel to different angles and trying to shift into reverse it will seem to 'find a spot' and release the gear stick. It drives perfectly, shifts into drive and reverse and park with no problems but every time we have started the car again today the same thing has happened. It doesnt matter if I am shifting from park into reverse or park into drive it will just not release from park. No idea. Perfectly fine aside from today.

Any ideas would be great
Cheers

[genep]

Does your emergency brake work well? When you park, try stepping on the brake and putting the emergency brake on tight, THEN put trans into park. When you restart, put the trans into 'R' BEFORE releasing the E brake. Do not change the order of these steps. This will ensure that the park pawl is not seeing a load for this test. If you still have the problem, then the park pawl mechanism in the trans is sticking and will need service.

[fixer]

Are you parking on a hill, or do you often park on a steep hill? Not sure about the 2nd gens, but 3rd gens have a little slot next to the shifter with a cover over it normaly. If you pry the cover off you can stick the ignition key into the slot to release the shifter.
1. Set the park brake.
2. insert the key in the slot.
3. Push down on the key while you push the shifter button and move the shift to nuet.
4. Press the brake and start the motor.
Release the brake an take the car to a Honda dealer for repair, this one can be difficult to diagnose.