Honda Push Button Shift Tips & Tricks 

I had to tow one of these today. The driver put a hole in the oil pan so starting it was not an option. He called another towing company who didn’t use RU-vid to find information on this sort of thing and wanted to drag it on his truck. The owner was not in favor of this idea so he called me. After learning where the ShiftLock release was I looked like a super hero! Awesome video!

Another tip: If you have the transmission in any gear outside of "park" and turn the car off, the transmission will shift to park automatically. To activate automatic parking brake, pull up once on the parking brake then pull up and hold. It should beep. Now when you turn the car off the parking brake will activate automatically.

Appreciate the tips. I purchased a 2019 Insight EX less than six weeks ago and love it. At first I didn't like the push button operation but now that I'm used to it I love it, without the shift knob I have much more room.

I would rather have a good old fashioned gear shift lever. Nothing like placing your hand on it while driving.

Thank you soooo much for making this video.i have one in my shop that doesn’t start and we wanna push it into the building.thats why I’m here

Very good info. Too bad it sounds like a squirrel foraging in velcro for 90% of the video.

More convenient and definitely longer lasting but I just like the aesthetics of having a shift lever.

Awesome!!! Thank you for answering the question on the Honda Push Button transmission.

Fantastic solution for people with wrist or shoulder issues, disabilities and arthritis! Love it! Does anyone know if the push-button shifter can be added after-market to a Honda CRV?

I own one of the first push button transmissions, the 7 DCT in the 2014 model year KC2 ("RLX Sport Hybrid" or 5G Legend). Something that I like very much about the design is that it does not take long at all for the driver to be able to operate every function without having to look at it. On my car, the Sport button has Braille on it that makes it easy to hit the button without looking at it.

Very helpful was about to tow my accord until I noticed a door was open car would shift back to park until I closed door I could drive.

Nice. I am looking for the push button shift (or even the with the stick) up by the steering wheel in Honda CRV's. I like the older model in 2001 Honda CRV which is a lot shorter than the new models, making it a lot easier to find parking space. Also the 2001 CRV has huge space in the middle because there is gear shift (it's behind the steering wheel instead) and the tray for cup holder between passenger and driver can be folded. The storage space in the back of the 2001 Honda CRV's are also more convenient with compartments on each side where you can stick a bottle or a brush in and it will hold. I am so disappointed this push button shift is only available in luxury cars nowadays. I can't wait for Honda will go back to the 2001 interior design for the its CRV's.

The hybrid Accord and CR-V have the button shifter as well. With an added bonus: since it uses the electric motor at low speeds, you *can* shift between R and D while moving. Great for 3-point (or 5-, or 7-) turns.

This reminds me of the "Turbo Encabulator" video! You could do that video. I have watched about every video about using this electronic gear shifting. Thinking of getting a nice used 2020 Acura RLX and they have this type of shifter. Now you mention the colors you see when you push a button, GREAT! I AM COLORBLIND! At least it seems the colors do not change from Red to Green or such. I see I will have to avoid stopping at a train crossing, the engine stops and here comes a train!

Really really like the shift button, like on a super car, and cant compare w the same sedan. Its Unique!

Thank you Brian for your detailed explanation! :)

Very interesting information. Thanks!

Great Video. Thank you very much!

Luv u 2018 2.0 Honda Accord...

Next time you make a video do it without all those candy wrappers in your pocket.

Very informative 👍 Thanks 🙏

Nice explanation 👍

Awesome tips brian

Thanks for the information

One additional thing. In our '20 Odyssey, going from neutral to drive, it will tell you to "apply the brake to shift back into drive." Very annoying in a car wash that pulls you through, especially when the next car is right behind you. However, I have found that if you just press D a few times quickly, it will give up on its pointless demand and shift into Drive. This is a terrible "feature" that I hope is removed via software update. I have reported it to Honda, please do the same!

Can you make the push shifter make some kind of noise to notify that it’s been pressed? That’s the only thing that bothers me about it. When I test drove it. The buttons made no noise. Making me second guess myself each time if the button had actually been pressed. And in the bright AZ sun it’s difficult to see if the buttons are illuminated. I didn’t even know they lit up until this video.

awesome info! thanks!!

I love the push button. It takes up less room but in my old car I use to hang my lanyard with my keys on it. I can’t do that now.

1st review where someone talked about how to put the car in neutral when the engine would not start.

How do you handle the paddle shifters if you accidently hit one and the engine revs really high. Is there a fast way to disengage them, while in the middle of a turn?? I've never used the paddle shifters and this happened to me. Once I slowed and was out of the turn, I pressed the D button twice and things finally fell back into place, but I was completely guessing on how to return to a normal gear for the speed I was going. Could have over revved my engine and don't want to experience that again.

Thanks for the video. I wonder if the tool that I have for the Honda pilot and the Acura MDX will work on this car to get it into neutral

I recently just purchased a honda pilot. What would happen if I was in drive and I accidently hit the start button?

Informative video Brian, thank you. What happens if you are driving without a seatbelt on and open the door? And one more, is it true that the Push Button Shift is only available on the 2.0? The Honda website shows interior images of all 3 engines (1.5, 2.0, Hybrid) for Touring as Push Button, and all 3 engines for EX-L as standard shifter.

I have a 2019 odyssey that I just purchased. When I reverse out of my driveway and switch into drive it takes a couple seconds before my car will go. Is that a thing with these push buttons? Thanks!

Love it !!

What if during an emergency someone pushes the button while still driving to turn off the engine (steering won't lock) and then press the Park or Reverse button? Will the transmission shift out of Drive into Park or Reverse will still rolling at highway speeds?

How do you put the Honda Accord in the pedal shift mode and then how do you take it out of the panel shift mode and put it back in drive

Thank you for the information on disengaging the transmission under the hood. Honda roadside did NOT know how to do this when I required a tow recently and we could not get it into neutral using the normal process. They ended up having to drag my car up using skids onto the tow truck. It was really distressing considering my car was brand new.

Thanks for sharing

I would’ve made reverse blinking yellow lights myself

when the first iphone came out i remember everybody crying and saying they will never buy a phone with a glass screen because it would break easy.. Today, everybody have a phone with a full screen..... i love my push buttons transmision it's so smooth..

I have a 2020 Odyssey and I have a question I can't find the answer to in the manual anywhere. (1) if I hit D a 2nd time it switches to S and I think this is downshifting to a lower gear. This is in the manual but it's very vague about what S mode actually is. (2) there are + and - tabs on the steering wheel. These seem to be manual gear shifts. I'm not sure exactly how they work. I tested a bit but if you go into a higher gear they don't stay in that gear. I am headed to Mount Washington and it's advised to go down in a lower gear to not burn out your brakes. So do I use S mode or the +/- tabs to downshift?

For the Clarity PHEV, if the car can’t power on, how do you put the car in N for towing?

Can you put the transmission in neutral while the car is moving?

which direction do you turn it? righty or lefty (control shaft)

I love this push botton so clean and Roomy...

What happens if it malfunctions?

I had my 2011 Honda and sometimes it locked up and I couldn’t get it out of park, couldn’t start it and the steering wheel also locked up. That little panel released the shift lock. I now have a 2020 odyssey so I have to call roadside service to get it back in gear? Does that still happen in 2020’s?

can you push the parking buttom while its on park more than once

Hi Brian so my 2.0 sport does not have that slot for the key. So I would have to do it manually. My question is where did you get this picture I need to bring that to the dealership cuz they can't figure out how to put in neutral cuz my car don't start. Bad fuel pump recall thing.

What is the S button for in my 2014 Honda Fit Hybrid. This is beside the transmission lever.

What if u want to rev the engine when ur comin up beside someone. Can u put it in nuetral rev it & then put it in drive again as ur moving .. tyvm

So, let's say I want to use one of my local car washes where I sit in the car and it moves me forward via rollers behind the tires. I have to be in Neutral and at the end of the car wash I have to shift back to Drive to exit. Since I cannot simply pull down on a lever to Drive, I have to put my foot on the brake which stops the car and causes the roller behind the car to attempt to push the car forward and passes under the tire / wheel - What do I do? - simply no longer use a car wash?

So when I park the 2.0 I brake with the car in drive (D) in a parking spot and I put the e brake on then push neutral (N). I then let go and shift it to parking (P). Is this bad or any harm to the transmission?

How to shut motor off & leave radio on , 2020 ridgeline rtl-e ?

What if your battery dies, Can you still put it on neutral ?

Nice review! You have a sub

Do you have to have the push shift or can you get the normal shifter thingy

My shifter stocked is peeling! How do i replace it?!

Thanks a lot for the awesome review. Special thanks for mentioning the way to put into neutral without engine running. BTW, how to engine brake with these push buttons? I didn't see an L or B gear.

Is it possible to drive with your door opened?

Do I press the break again every time I want to change gear?

What if you are sitting in your car (going through a conveyor-style car wash) and it's in neutral while going through and then at the end, you are supposed to put it in drive but can't without hitting the brake? But when you hit the brake, the thing under you hits something and makes a noise? Is there a way to put it in drive from neutral without hitting the brake? (2018 Honda Pilot)

Mr. handful of Jolly Ranchers.... the PRND buttons would've taken hours for me to figure out. Thanks for this video.... what an epiphany! 😂

What happens if lose the use of your breaks. How do you slow the car down with the push button shift?

The Honda Accord 2018 in GCC country does not have the same gears that are old one here 😶😑

Mine has the static noise & looses radio connection reseting itself repeatedly 🥱🥱😞😞😭😭😭took it 4 times & honda can’t fix it

My wife touch the push button with out touching touching the brake to many times now my car won't start,2018 honda accord exl 2.0T how do I fix this..thanks in advance.

Hi ! The reverse gear stopped working. Pls advice.

Is the shifter buttons water proof?

My park lights blink and unable to shift from park to drive or reverse

Pilot with 20k mile stalled due to emission problem. Was stuck in park in the middle of traffic, and pushing neutral did not shift it to neutral. How do i get rid of this death trap

My question is what happens if you drop water o liquids there can you help me out please

I don’t think I’m ready for this technology yet, so many variables and always had bad luck with modern car buttons. Like on my Civic the button for the driver went busted and couldn’t lower my window anymore. Or the the time the emergency parking light button jammed to always having it on and couldn’t turn it off until I use a knife to pop it out. Dealership charged me to fix that. Like I said too many variables, and having that technology as a shifter is very risky... my opinion tho, I rather get the CVT than the 2.0T just for the fact.

Do you have to put it in park to shut it off?

There is any option to switch it to manual , and use the steering wheel shifters ?

Thank you so much. I have an unrelated question. According to the manual, I should be able to turn down the navigation voice easily but my Honda accord touring model (2018) does not work the way the manual says it should. There is no volume control under settings. Can you help?

My neutral pushbutton light remains on but will function in PARK, REVERSE & D/S 2020 Honda Elite Passport what do I do to correct this issue 😕 HELP PLEASE

Does anyone know if these Honda’s have a low gear mode for slippery or heavy snow conditions?

Actually how to put N(neutral) after batterty or engine power off?????? please answer detail !

I notice your dealership logo on the touchscreen. What size and/or resolution do the images need to be to fit properly?

What would happen if you pull the emergency brake while driving? I the 2.0T and a very anxious teenage son who would like to learn to drive. If I needed to in my old car I could pop the shifter into neutral and pull the emergency brake, would it work the same with the push buttons?

Do you know if the push button start has a sealant for spills? Thanks

So, there is "Low" gear tgat is useful for going up or down a mountain?

What if I spell some water or coffee on it? Well it still working? "Is it water proof"?

Has it occurred to anyone at Honda, that if you need this much of an explanation on how shift gears in a car, maybe it's not a good idea?

the electronic shifter is a hugh step backwards

I agree with the physical gear shift as a better option, but if Honda insists, can they at least put the buttons up higher like the CRV puts the shift so that it would be highly unlikely someone would spill something on the buttons?

Oh i love it

I've had my Accord for 3 years now and I must say I do not like the push button shifter. But it came with the 2.0 T and I very much wanted that engine. I believed that I would adapt quickly Not so! It's just not intuitive like a lever is. Other than that I love the car.

how hard is it to hit the buttons while driving? would a cellphone, sunglasses, or some other item such as a closed drink be able to knock it into Neutral?

How do I display the gear info - I have 2018 Accord 2.0T with 10 speed AT

it got a cvt trans?

How do I get it in neutral if battery is dead. How do I shift from park to neutral if battery is dead. Please help!!

on the e-cvt is it possible to overide the system and select a lower or higher gear. As the paddle do regen only is there a way to select a different gear? like you may need a manual control for spirited driving?

Electronic got wet from leaving sun roof open causing electronic shift staying in park (error reading water in transmission). What to do?

I saw the pointer change to an image

Does the letters fade?

How do you go into lower gears in drive mode?

You said this new accord is a 10 speed automatic? Or is that the gears on a cvt?