1997 Civic. The shifter is locked in park and the only way to unlock it is to insert a key and push down but then it locks up again when returned to park. Nothing happens when I try to start the car. No lights come on and everything seems dead.
What's happening?
Thanks for any tips.

 

Maybe a shift linkage? But that wouldn't explain it not starting..

 

Dead battery? Bad connections at battery?

The shifter unlock is electric. Since the whole car doesn't have power, it won't work either.

 

i had this problem yesterday, ended up being a bad fuse. you might want to check that, on a 92-95 it's a yellow fuse. not sure about a 97

 

neutral safety switch ?