Tranny Trouble -- Please Help!
 

For about the last week or so I've been having really clunky shifting. The last 2 days have been the worst, with me having to fight to get the shifter into first gear or reverse, and all the other gears are almost as difficult. With the engine off, it shifts with a perfect little snick-snick like it always has, but with the engine running, it's nearly impossible to shift. A guy at work told me it might be a throw-out bearing, but he's not sure without looking. I'm going to take it to a transmission shop today, but I'd like to know what you guys think.

By the way, it's a '95 Honda Civic. I checked the clutch's hydraulic fluid today and it was a little low so I topped it off, but that didn't help. Remember, with the engine off, shifting is perfectly fluid like always.

Thanks.

I think you need a complete clutch assembly, Throw out bearing, disc and pressure plate. The p.p. is probably worn out, and the springs are not releasing, therefore hard to get into gear with the engine turning. Make sure you take it to someone you trust, the whloe job should be $500.00 or less. When 1 part of the clutch assembly wears out, you should change all of it. its not worth trying to save a few bucks, and do it over

I think the flywheel and pressure plate are still in good condition. It's on a stock engine, but it's an ACT clutch capable of 600hp and 400lb-ft of torque.

Has it been colder lateley where you are? And does it do it all the time, even when the engine warms up? If so, It's probably the clutch assembly. If not, it may just be to thick of oil in the trans.

How's the pedal feel? My pedal started off a little loose a few weeks ago, and by yesterday the clutch wasn't disengaging till the pedal was (seemingly) past the floor. I had to nurse it to the mechanic and they found out my master cylinder wasn't making any pressure. It only took an hour and 200 bucks for them to fix it.

Also remember if you replace the clutch get a new one and not a rebuilt one. The rebuilt ones don't last as long. How old is the clutch you put in it? It could possibly be worn. It all depends on how easy you are on it.

It's at the shop right now and they're going to start with the master cylinder. It was slightly leaking, although, he said not as much as many he's seen. Nonetheless, it was leaking, so they called the Honda dealership and they had 2 in stock, so at least they are able to get the part really quickly. I should be able to go pick it up tomorrow and hopefully the problem will be solved.

Sounds like the clutch slave (or master) cylinder to me.

woah... i was about to move this into Off the Wayside :) until I realized it wasn't the tranny I was thinking about...

Isn't there a way to adjust the pedal freeplay on one of them thingys? Sounds like what happens when the clutch face wears a bit and the pedal can't dissengage the clutch all the way anymore.

OK, here's what happened:

First, the clutch master cylinder was slowly leaking. One top of that, the clutch slave cylinder was completely blown out. But the best part is, the clutch fork arm was broken all the way through (see pic).

After two days and $796.31, the car is back to normal again.

http://www.projectbigbrother.com/ima...clutchfork.jpg

Holy crap dude, you had it way worse than I did. Amazing that basically your whole clutch package (except the clutch) wore out at the same time.

Yeah, the clutch itself is still in great condition. They said I probably have another 3 years on it easy.

Wow. That has to be some kind of chance record. Did you buy a Lotto ticket? If I was you, I would.

"After two days and $796.31, the car is back to normal again."

just out of curiosity, what was the price of the parts? other than the fork, which is probably a dealer only item, I bet you paid more than double for the cylinders by allowing them to get them from the dealer. NEVER get parts from the dealer, if you can avoid it.

wanna get really pissed off? here are some prices to compare with (from PartsAmerica.com, based on my zip code in central Ohio):

Raybestos CMA39903
Clutch Master Cylinder: 3 Door, 4 Door; Disc; Includes Base, CX, DX, LX Listing
3 Month Limited Warranty Ships in 1 day
Weight: 1.2 lbs.
$79.99

Bendix 13090
Clutch Slave Cylinder: 3/4"; 3 Doors; Hatchback; Drum/Drum; Power Brakes; Includes CX, DX, LX, VX Listing
1 Year Replacement Warranty Ships in 1 day
Weight: 0.1 lbs.
$43.28

(note: same part #s for all civic models, including the del Sol vtech)

what did you pay for these parts from the dealer, through a garage (which probably marked them up even more)?

btw, both Raybestos and Bendix replacement brake and clutch parts are superior in quality to the OEMs.

Sion, I know I paid way too much for the parts, but I was stuck without a car and didn't have a lot of options. Had I had another car to drive for a week, I could have bought the parts somewhere else and saved a couple hundred.

god bless my manual!

boco, sorry. Did not notice a PM. When you have automotive problems, contact me first, OK?

reed_henry@yahoo.com