# 97 Honda CRV "flashing"shift indicator light

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-honda-crv-flashing-shift-indicator-light/24367>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 4, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-honda-crv-flashing-shift-indicator-light/24367 "2009-01-04T19:29:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Boazian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Boazian](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Boazian)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-honda-crv-flashing-shift-indicator-light/24367/1 "2009-01-04T19:29:21Z")

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When driving normal day to day everything is ok,but when stopping and going on my rural mail delivery job the (gear) shift indicator light will occasionally start flashing/blinking. It seems to take a few seconds before actually engaging drive from a dead stop, after this occurs.When it finally starts going it also seems to go slower like it’s in a different (automatic) gear? I’ve noticed a kind of click noise when this is happening to the left of my sterring column-possibly a relay or something electrical? If I turn my car off it seems to reset itself and resumes driving normal? any ideas?

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/97-honda-crv-flashing-shift-indicator-light/24367/2 "2009-01-04T20:16:07Z")

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My best suggestion is to read the relevant section of your Owner’s Manual. I can tell you that on my last Honda, a '92 Accord, the manual clearly stated that a flashing “D” on the transmission quadrant indicated an electronic fault in the transmission’s controls. (I am assuming that this is the same light that you refer to as a shift indicator light.)

Failure to quickly rectify an electronic problem with the transmission’s controls can morph into much more expensive mechanical transmission problems. I suggest that you consult the manual to try to confirm what I have stated above, and if the manual’s information is consistent with what you have observed, that you get the car to a competent transmission shop a.s.a.p. (Note: AAMCO, Lee Myles, Cottman, and other transmission chains are not usually considered to be in the category of competent–or honest–transmission shops.)
