Won't shift into drive

17393 Views 24 Replies 14 Participants Last post by pbrown110, 4 mo ago

alansweinstein

Discussion Starter · Jan 5, 2016

My 2007 Ridgeline with 158,000 miles has developed a shifting problem. When I move the shift lever from Park to Drive the lever stops at neutral and will not continue into the Drive position, this renders my vehicle undriveable. I can go back up to Reverse or back to the Park position but when I attemp to bring the lever back to Drive it will not move beyond neutral. I have to continually move the lever up and down trying to feel my way into drive and after several minutes of jockeying the lever it will unexplainably shift into drive. It will be ok for a day or so then the problem reoccurs. Honda tells me being that as it is intermittent they cannot diagnose the problem until in the problem is repeatable. I have had the problem several times and twice called for a tow truck only to have the problem disappear after after playing with the lever for several minutes. The service department says this problem is a new one for them. Any suggestions.

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speedlever

· #2 · Jan 5, 2016

4

That is a new one to me too alan. Definitely sounds like it's in the mechanism, but troubleshooting that over the internet may be a challenge.

Since you can move it out of Park, it doesn't sound like the shift lock is at fault. Do you have any stored DTCs?

The shift lever assembly is more complex than I imagined. You may want to let the shop keep it overnight and troubleshoot the issue.

There are pages of information on the shift lever. Just replacing the shift cable alone is 4 pages.

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AirVenture

· #3 · Jan 5, 2016

I've experienced this problem too. It lasted for a for few months, and now everything is back to normal. When I did get it into drive, it was also difficult to shift down into 2nd and 1st. Now it's back to being smooth as can be. I have no idea what's going on, and can't attribute it to any changes to the car.

chiph

· #4 · Jan 5, 2016

Shift interlock solenoid sticking?

Chip H.

alansweinstein

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 11, 2016

Honda dealer had it three days said they could no get it to repeat the problem. They did check what speedlever recommended but found nothing. I picked it up ran several errands with no problem. Parked it and the next morning when I went to leave it would not go into drive. I cycled the shift lever up and down to no avail then suddenly it fell into place effortlessly. I drove it two more days and have not been able to get it to repeat the problem. Time will tell but for now I drive it and wait.

speedlever

· #6 · Jan 11, 2016

Those intermittent kind of problems are very difficult to solve until they finally break for good (what an odd term... break for good.

Reactions: 1

tanman

· #7 · Jul 23, 2016

Hi All -
Just acquired a 2006 Ridgeline with 121,000. I am having the same shifting issue. Easy to go from P to R or N. But once in R or N, I can not get to D.

I now can swiftly go from R up to P and then a hard push down to D, but doesn't feel right (and sometimes I end up in N and have to try again!).

alansweinstein - did you get any further in trouble-shooting your issue?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

tanman

· #8 · Oct 1, 2016

An update on my Ridgeline -
Similarly to AirVenture's experience, the problem just faded away. Literally. It suddenly became less and less frequent or difficult and now seems to be without issue.

The only note I can make about this truck is I bought it used. Perhaps the truck sitting unused for some period caused it...?

JayMag

· #9 · Nov 16, 2016

Did you ever find out why the shift lever was stopping at neutral and then would go into (Drive) I am having same thing with an 07 RL I just purchased.

tanman

· #10 · Apr 5, 2017

I never understood the cause. And it has not come back.

JayMag - what has been your experience? Is the issue still present?

ridged

· #11 · Apr 5, 2017

It sounds like it could be a loose part that is jiggling out of place and then finding its way back home.

sfjrod

· #12 · May 22, 2018

I just bought a used 2007 used RL with 100300 miles and I experienced this same problme last night where the shifter lever would stop at neutral and not move down to Drive. I moved it back to park and tried again and the same thing happend then finally it went into drive. Has anyone found a solution to this problem? I don’t want to be stuck with something like this right off the bat. I have a few days to return the car no questions asked.

smufguy

· #13 · May 22, 2018

sfjrod said:
I just bought a used 2007 used RL with 100300 miles and I experienced this same problme last night where the shifter lever would stop at neutral and not move down to Drive. I moved it back to park and tried again and the same thing happend then finally it went into drive. Has anyone found a solution to this problem? I don’t want to be stuck with something like this right off the bat. I have a few days to return the car no questions asked.

Rather than troubleshoot it yourself, as the vehicle is new to you, have it looked at by the folks who sold it to you. Let them fix it for you. This way you have a documented problem/issue upon immediate purchase.

sfjrod

· #14 · May 23, 2018

This was user error. It was my fault, not letting it drop to D from N. Truck is running great.

Reactions: 1

speedlever

· #15 · May 23, 2018

Good to know. Thanks for the follow-up.

Reactions: 1

xsteverinox

· #16 · Aug 12, 2020

I've been having this problem lately. Has anyone ever found any additional information on it?

speedlever

· #17 · Aug 12, 2020

xsteverinox said:
I've been having this problem lately. Has anyone ever found any additional information on it?

Can you be more specific about your problem and experience and what you've done to try and resolve it?

xsteverinox

· #18 · Aug 12, 2020 (Edited)

Hi speedlever
It's pretty much what the OP said. The shifter doesn't want to go past N. I have to go up and down several times between P and N before it will go into D and then do some more wiggling if I want to get it into 2 or 1. Once I got it in gear, I ran some errands and it worked ok the couple of times I stopped and restarted. The next morning I had the problem again. It's been only 5k mi since I changed the trans fluid and the level is good and seemed clear. I haven't done anything yet but was considering changing the trans fluid again. I normally do a drain and refill every 10k mi.

ETA: '07, 275k mi, owned since '11

TommyRidge

· #19 · Aug 13, 2020

xsteverinox said:
Hi speedlever
It's pretty much what the OP said. The shifter doesn't want to go past N. I have to go up and down several times between P and N before it will go into D and then do some more wiggling if I want to get it into 2 or 1. Once I got it in gear, I ran some errands and it worked ok the couple of times I stopped and restarted. The next morning I had the problem again. It's been only 5k mi since I changed the trans fluid and the level is good and seemed clear. I haven't done anything yet but was considering changing the trans fluid again. I normally do a drain and refill every 10k mi.

ETA: '07, 275k mi, owned since '11

I am experiencing exact same shifting issues with my recently purchased 2007 RT with 159,000 miles.

TommyRidge

· #20 · Aug 13, 2020

I am experiencing the exact same shifting issues with my recently purchased 2007 RT with 159,000 miles.

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