Rep Power: 0

I'm new here, so excuse my low-tech words.

2002 Civic EX, automatic
48,000 miles

I have found pieces of information in these forums and elsewhere online and *think* that I have a brake light switch problem. My gear shift gets stuck in park and I have to insert my key into the manual release hole to move to neutral and start the car. My brake lights also do not work. All other lights, turn signals, and horn do work.

If you agree it's the break light switch, can a non-car person repair it? If not, how much should it cost to fix?

Also, I am contemplating buying an OBD II scanner, as I have been quoted $100+ from repair shops just to read the codes. From what I've read here, I could buy one for around $100. Am I wrong that this sounds like a good investment? Are they hard to use?

Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 812

sounds like youre right. we have a similar issue with our 92 accord where the shifter is not moving out of park sometimes, and the brakes work but the lights sometimes wont come on unless you push down hard. switch is usually really easy to change, it sits right behind the brake pedal. if you go down there and look, youll see where the metal brake pedal pushes down on the switch. if that doesnt work, you might have something jammed up in the actual shifter.

obdII scanner is a good investment, i bought mine off ebay (c-tools brand) for $40 and it works great. just plug it in the port near the gas pedal and it reads the code. then search for the engine codes thread here in the maint forum, print that out, and keep it in the car so you can lookup what the code means. heres the post

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...-ii-codes.html