PLEASE PLEASE help more tranny probs

[bcmcdani]

ok just a quick question is it my clutch or is it time for a tranny oil change or.... is my tranny done? i have a 97 with 120,000 k car runs awesome except last week it started a grind into 5th there is no way to get around the grind.. i can do it as slow as i like but the gears are movin and there is nothing that i can do. i bought the car at 96,000 and have not changed the tranny oil i will do this TOMORROW but if this is not it what else should i try? if it was the clutch i would have this problem in the lower gears as well would i not? anyone else with just a 5th gear grind? none of the other gears ever grind.. please help me out i was about to install a turbo and now this ......... definetley a piss off.. :(

thanks any info is so greatly appreciated

[Keith]

Sounds like your 5th gear syncho is gone... Do you have an extended warranty? I would look into replacing the clutch and possibly add LSD (if you have the money) while your tranny is open... Sorry to hear!

keith

[93SRVMAN]

Try replacing the tranny fluid first....

Use ONLY HONDA MTF. This fixes a lot of strage tranny problems surprisingly. But it does sounds like the syncro in fifth may be shot.

[Keith]

Yeah, start small and inexpensive, I did that first... I replaced my tranny fluid with Honda MTF but the grinding persisted... At that point it was confirmed that it was a syncho problem..

Keith

[meth0d]

Tranny problems, I've had em all.

The 5th gear grind is a common problem and it is definately a synchro. However, I'd replace your tranny fluid just to be sure.

I may start a webpage devoted to Honda Prelude transmission problems. Maybe if we make enough noise Honda will acknowledge the problem and come up with a permanent fix for it. I'm on my third rebuild now (scheduled for Monday -- 2nd gear synchro).

Edit: Honda is covering this under warranty. Could be worse! At least they're being very understanding about the problem and helping me out!

[Satan_SRV]

Originally posted by bcmcdani
anyone else with just a 5th gear grind? none of the other gears ever grind.. please help me out i was about to install a turbo and now this ......... definetley a piss off.. :(

thanks any info is so greatly appreciated

You don't need to spend any money. You'll just have to teach yourself to double clutch into 5th. This will bypass your synchro and your problem. Do you know how to double cutch? Just in case you don't:

So you're in 4th about to shift to 5th..

Regular Shift:

Clutch in, shift to neutral, shift to 5th, Clutch Out

Double Clutch Shift:

Clutch In, Shift to Neutral, CLUTCH OUT, CLUTCH IN, shift to 5th, Clutch Out

Once you get enough practice it's like second nature and you won't even notice pumping your foot twice as you shift.

Simple.
Cost = $0

[bcmcdani]

thanks guys and yeah double clutching seems to completley eliminate the problem although i am sure I will get it done some time it works for now, no extended warranty which is a kick in the #$% the tranny fluid change seemed to help a bit but why honda oil only? i called honda because i was getting it done at a local shop and they said that it was fine to use a conventional oil is it worth getting it done again with the honda oil? thanks again. B)

[Maverick]

bcm:

I have a 97 lude as well and i experience this problem in my 5th gear only.

I double-clutch and its fine.

[bcmcdani]

right on,............. thanks again guys



later :)

[Biscuits]

Damn, i have the same f--kin problem. Well at least i'm not the only one. When i shift into fith, it doesn't make a loud grinding noise but you can hear and feel that its not right. Also i got this problem when pushing the car upshifting i missed 3rd and heard a loud grinding noise. Scared the **** outta me. Anyway when the tranny warms up after about a half hour or longer, the problem goes away? I put some tranny additive fluid in but it didn't help. Is it my synchro or what??

[Satan_SRV]

Originally posted by Biscuits
Damn, i have the same f--kin problem. Well at least i'm not the only one. When i shift into fith, it doesn't make a loud grinding noise but you can hear and feel that its not right. Also i got this problem when pushing the car upshifting i missed 3rd and heard a loud grinding noise. Scared the **** outta me. Anyway when the tranny warms up after about a half hour or longer, the problem goes away? I put some tranny additive fluid in but it didn't help. Is it my synchro or what??

Well for one if your car isn't warmed up...you shouldn't be pushing it. But aside from that I've had it happen the same way in third when I was shifting near redline...the synchros aren't great by any means, but I don't think it's so much the synchro than what you're trying to make to car do, especially with a cold tranny. Double Clutching will also avoid this problem.