Honda Repair: 2003 Honda Odyssey, 2003 honda odyssey, shift linkage

Question
We've had problems getting our van to dis-engage from park.  
We can't move the shifter at all.  Usually we wait about 30
min and then it's fine.  We have discovered that if we
engage the emergency break before turning the van off then
this problem usually doesn't happen when we go to start it
again.  However, there is no guarantee to that.  Yesterday,
I turned the van on, released the emergency break, started
to shift into reverse, heard a cracking sound, put it in
park.  I didn't see anything wrong so I went to put it in
reverse again and it's stuck.  It's still stuck today.  
Something's really wrong now.  Help please!!!!

Answer
Michelle, this could be as simple as a shift linkage cable being worn out and in need of replacement or adjustment. Do you park on a hill by chance? The E-brake is key when parking the vehicle, 1) while the vehicle sits and the gears in the transmission slacken in which the vehicle 'settles', 2) when going to shift out of park after the vehicle has settled this is very hard on the internals of the transmission, 3) when the E-brake is set the car will not 'settle' but the transmission will - basically gravity.

Unfortunately you have done some wear and tear on the shift linkage cable. Van's are heavy vehicles too and the engine and transmission in your vehicle are the same as what they put in the Honda Accord's. If you take the vehicle to a transmission shop they are probably going to tell you that the transmission needs to be replaced. Not necessarily true. So don't fall for this. I would purchase a transmission shift linkage from Honda. Get a quote for the labor from the dealer. Or take the vehicle into Honda and see if they can adjust your linkage first. I would also recommend changing and flushing the transmission fluid.

*When the E-brake is set no tension will be on the transmission.*

*No E-brake set there will be tension on the transmission.*