driftingdonuts

So I've been having some problems with my GSR lately, 182k miles so problems are to be expected, but I'm trying to sell it before winter hits and that might be hard to do with a bad tranny. Any help is appreciated.

Problems:
- 5th gear sometimes pops out, tends to happen more often during 60mph and above speeds.
- Transmission fluid on bottom of transmission, drips a few drops every night.
- Passenger side CV shaft will come out of the transmission about 3/4" sometimes.
- Vibration noise that comes above 6.5k rpm, still shifts fine so I don't think its a grind, almost sounds like it's coming from underneath the shift boot, and maybe in the pedal assembly. Can feel vibration in gas pedal at high rpm.

A bit more: When the 5th gear problem happens, I'll just put it back in 5th, and it will be ok for about another 10-15 seconds until it pops out again. When 5th pops out, I'll sometimes pull over and turn the wheels all the way to the right, where I can see the Passenger side CV shaft is popped out about 3/4" from the transmission. I can usually just push the cv shaft back in place and then 5th gear will work for another 10 miles or so, then 5th gear will start popping out again and the cv shaft will be popped out again as well.

The transmission fluid problem is a bit more recent, has only been leaking for a few weeks. I changed the fluid when I bought the car, because it grinded (or so I thought thats what the noise was) at high rpm. The fluid looked new like the previous owner had just changed it, and was also over filled by about half a quart. I used OEM Honda MTF with new washers and filled to spec. The grinding noise didn't go away, but doesn't effect shifting so I let it be. This all was fine and dandy for about 2k miles after the fluid change, then 5th gear popped out on me for the first time when I was about 30 minutes from home. I didn't know what to do, so I just held it in 5th (which took a lot of force to keep in) until I got home. I researched it and found that if 5th gear pops out, you may be low on transmission fluid. I added about a third of a quart, and the problem wen't away for another 1k miles. When it did it again, is when I noticed that the CV shaft would pop out 3/4" ever time 5th gear pops out.

I have had the passenger side CV shaft pop out far enough out of the transmission where it left me stranded and had to remove the CV shaft, and re install it. When it popped out too far the 2nd time, about 1k miles later, I took it to a parts store and compared it to a new CV shaft (not re manufactured, new) and compared the side of the little ring that holds it in the transmission, and found that the ring on my CV shaft was a lot smaller. I stretched it to the side of the new one, and it seemed to do the trick until the 5th gear problem started happening. I thought that maybe my CV shaft might be too short?

As for the vibration noise I'm not sure if it could be related or not to this, but thought it was at least worth mentioning. I've read that the heat-shields on the stock exhaust manifolds and on the catalytic converters like to get loose and rattle, but I have aftermarket headers. I have yet to look at the heat shield on the cat, but I don't believe it's likely to be that because the vibration seems to come from the pedals (you can feel it on the gas pedal) or underneath the shift boot.

I've searched for an answer to these problems for a while now, and really haven't found an answer, so I've decided to make this thread in search of someone who might know. Hope I provided enough detailed information. I just really want to get this fixed for good because It's up for sale, and don't want to sell anyone a junk box. It's gotten to a point where I don't feel comfortable driving it over 30 minutes on the highway because it could leave me stranded at any point.

Thanks in advance for any help.

fcm

I would start by inspecting the circlip on the pass. drive shaft.

Also check the motor mounts and shift linkage, paying close attention to the change extension rod and it's mounting. 94

TheRealTegger

The inner CV joint has a wire "set ring" near the end of it. This set ring is the thing that keeps the driveshaft from popping out of the diff.

The CV joint should be difficult to make "clink" in place, sometimes to the point where you need a dead-blow hammer to seat it fully. If your shaft keeps popping out all the time, then the set ring is either missing, or is compressed and is no longer holding. you can replace the set ring separately from the driveshaft.

driftingdonuts

When I had the passenger side CV shaft out, It did have a set ring at the end. The ring was too small, so I compared it to a new CV shaft and made the set ring the same size and re-installed it. It worked for almost 2 months until now.

The motor mounts seemed to look ok, If I rev it with the hood open the engine doesn't look like it moves too much. The passenger side lower transmission mount (I've heard it called a torque mount) has a slight tear in it, but I don't think that it would flex enough to make a considerable difference. I might try changing that because I think it's only about $20 for a new one.

So where would the transmission be leaking from? The whole bottom of the transmission is wet with fluid.

I'm going to investigate the vibration noise a bit as soon as I get some time.

Any more help would be greatly appreciated.

TheRealTegger

That set ring you repaired does not have the same tension as a new one would, even though you corrected its diameter. That's why it's not holding properly.

Buy a NEW set ring.

With the CV joint pulling out all the time, I'd say there's an excellent chance its oil seal in the tranny housing is all torn up. Replace that, too.

driftingdonuts

I looked at all the local parts stores for a new set ring for the CV shaft before I decided to just use the old one and correct the diameter. Would Honda have a set ring?

Where is the transmission seal you speak of? If i'm thinking of the same one you are it's right where the CV shaft pushes in the transmission, around the hole?

TheRealTegger

That means you had to bend it. The tension is not the same if you bend a ring up to a size as it would be if it were made to that size to begin with. You need a NEW set ring, which will have the correct tension.


You mean an Acura dealer? You could have Googled it or telephoned your local Acura dealer, but I'll do it for you:

It's part #3 at the right-hand side of that image (in the same group that says 1-3-8). It's about two or three dollars.

That's correct. It's cheap, too.

driftingdonuts

So a little update. The high rpm "grind" was just the throttle cable hitting the hood, thus why I felt it in the gas pedal. So that's fixed.

I put a brand new oem set ring on the passenger cv shaft this morning. When I took it out, there was fluid on the end of the cv shaft. I inspected the seal, and it looked ok, but I suppose it couldn't hurt to change it. I got the transmission mount and will install that soon too. After I reassembled the car I took it for a drive about an hour each way. It didn't fix it. 5th gear pops out. I added another half quart of 10w-30 synthetic oil to the trans (at this point i have no idea how much fluid is in there, i don't know where its going or what) and it stayed in 5th for about 50 miles until it started popping out again. Let it cool for about an hour when we got there, and started for home. Worked good for the first 20 miles until it started popping out again, progressively sooner and sooner. It got to the point where it would pop out about every 15 seconds. After a while of this, I did a 3rd to 4th gear pull on the highway and then put it in 5th, and then 5th worked for another 20 miles or so.

I stopped at advance auto and asked them but they were all butt holes about it and were no help at all. One guy recommended Pennzoil synchromesh but I figured I'd ask on here before I try anything.

Any ideas?