Problems with your Honda Accord shifter can be irritating at best, and downright dangerous at worst. Because the automatic transmission in your SOHC Honda Accord is actuated by a cable, it’s a good idea to know how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable. Knowing how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable can come in handy when you are installing a new transmission, or servicing your shift interlock, or maybe the shift cable is damaged.
In any case, I’ll be showing you how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable in a 2000 Honda Accord with the 2.3 liter F23A4 engine in it. This DIY guide assumes you are comfortable working on the interior of your own vehicle, and that you have a flat surface to work upon.
The shift cable is housed in a metal casing, which allows for the cable to slide back and forth within the protective sheath. Because this cable runs into the back of your automatic transmission, you will need to replace that end first and slide the linkage part into your Accord cabin.
How To Remove Honda Accord Shifter
Removing your Honda Accord shifter can be very easy to do, and requires just a Phillips screwdriver and a panel popping device, you can even use a spatula. Before you learn how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable, you’ll need to remove the center console to your Accord. To do this, your automatic shifter handle must be removed.
There are two phillips screws that hold the head of your Accord shifter in place.
After removing these screws, pull up carefully to remove the shifter.
You can choose to leave the shifter internals in place, which we opted to do. If you are removing it just in case, make sure to note the orientation in which you are removing the blade. This blade or edge must ride along the outside of the plastic button that resides inside the head of your Honda shifter.
Now remove the screws shown above that retain the center console pocket in place. Remove these two screws and then you can remove the shifter base around your shifter. Once the shifter base has been taken off, you almost have your Accord center console removed. You will need to loosen the screws around the shifter base area, and the two screws located in the back of the center console.
Slide your passenger and driver seat all the way forward, and then remove the screws shown below to free the back of your console.
You should now be able to unscrew the center console light bulb, as well as any electrical connections your Honda Accord may have. Pull your emergency brake all the way up and then remove your center console.
Now that the center console has been removed, inspect your shift cable and how it mounts to the shift lever mechanism.
Clear out any wiring and get yourself some room to operate, as you’ll be removing the lead of the shift cable in order to adjust it. When you are ready to learn how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable, slide the shifter into the PARK position.
Remove the nut that holds the shaft of your shifter base in place. Once this nut has been removed, you can slide off the end of the Accord shift cable.
Grab the end of the Accord shift cable, labeled A, this is the housing for the F23 automatic transmission. Grab this with your hand and rotate counterclockwise against the opening of the shift lever bracket base.
Once the arm on the housing has cleared, you will be able to swing the entire shift cable out. Do not twist or turn the end of the Accord shift cable (shown in diagram as E), and get ready to adjust your Honda Accord shift cable.
Now grab the end of the shift cable (E) and push it into the metal sheath. Once you have bottomed out this shift end, release it and pull back two notches until it rests in the NEUTRAL position.
Insert your key and turn the switch to the ON position, and verify that your N position symbol lights up on your Accord instrument panel. Now depress your shift interlock release lever, and move your Accord shifter to the NEUTRAL position.
Now that your shifter is put into NEUTRAL, try to align your Honda Accord shift cable to the shifter base. Chances are that your shift cable does not line up correctly, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading our how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable DIY Guide.
Now re-insert the housing of the Honda Accord shift cable and you will be adjusting the loop portion of your Honda Accord shift cable. Do not turn or rotate the section shown as E. Instead hold the shaft still so that it cannot rotate, and then spin the end loop outward or inward until it meets up with the shifter base.
You have now learned how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable, the rest of this job is testing your shifter to make sure everything is working correctly. Try test driving the vehicle without the center console in place, but reattach your shifter so that it makes shifting your Accord easy.
Have any questions about our how to adjust a Honda Accord shift cable DIY Guide? Leave them for us below!
My ex has an 03 accord and the dash is readiing nuetral but the shifter is in park will doing this belp
Hi Robert, thanks for reading our Honda Accord shift cable guide.
Quick question, when you say that the Accord shows Neutral but the shifter is in park, did someone recently open the center console at all? You can try adjusting the shift cable to correct this, but more than likely there is something wrong with the center location plate. This is the plastic plate that’s directly under your Honda accord shift boot. You should be able to move this around so that the electronic display is correct.
Hope that helps! Thanks for commenting!
I swapped engine cradles on my 98 Honda Accord and now I have d4 flashing and when in drive the car takes time to take off once’s it takes off it seems to run fine
Hi Carlos, this is a common error for those people who swap a F series from an later model into an earlier chassis Accord.
To fix the flashing D4 issue, make sure to adjust your shift cable so that your ECU knows it’s in park properly. Hope that helps!
I got a 96 accord and having problems with the transmission cable going into reverse and puting in a new cable how do i do it step by step
I have a question on something similar to this but dont want to seem dumb lol. Can i email you for help?
Hi Victor, thanks for reading!
No question is dumb, so please feel free to ask here! you can of course email me but not to worry, nobody is going to judge!
My 95 accord similar to this style when I put the car into park sometimes. It doesn’t register on the dash and shift lever gets stuck and wont move. If I get out and rock the car ir must pop into park then I can shift. Will adjusting cable do the trick
Hi Tyler,
yep that definitely sounds like your Accord shift cable is either loose, or the bracket that holds the cable has been bent. First start by checking the rubber isolators that connect your transmission to your Honda shift cables. If those are worn out, it’s an easy fix and cheap as well. Simply replace those rubber grommets one at a time, and you’ll fix the Accord shifting problems you are having.
Hope that helps! Thanks for commenting!
Hi john,
Thanks for this great tuto, I will test it if need be.
I have an advice to ask but the story is a little long so I PMed you guys to try to get help.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Regards,
Bernard.
Hi Bernard, where did you message your Accord shift questions?
I’m having problems with installing my new shifter cable on a 2001 Honda Accord. The problem was that the shifter broke at the transmission shifter. So I went and bought another one. It seems like the shifter cable isn’t lining up. But the car was wrecked in the front. So I’m thinking that the motor was pushed back some. So it’s not lining up. Is there any suggestions you can provide that can help.
Hi Archie, thanks for commenting..
Sounds bad, couple of questions. Check your Accord motor mounts, do they seem pushed back or out of alignment? If your engine has been pushed back, frame damage is more than likely. Are you sure you have the Accord shifter cable set properly? What happens when you try to line it up? too short? too long?
I have a question I wrecked my 01 honda accord LX now I’m having trouble with the transmission not wanting to go totally into d4
Have you tried to open the center console as the guide illustrates? What happens with it all open and you trying to shift into D4?
Hi I have a 2005 accord v6. I can’t shift into park but all other gears are fine. Could that be the shift cable needs replacement? Or is it the transmission
Hi there Ants, thanks for reading.
I would put the car into the neutral position, while making sure your Accord shift interlock is released. With the interlock released please try to shift directly on the transmission. If the transmission levers do not move in this position with the key to the ON position, then it’s your transmission that’s at fault.
Hope that helps!