How can I start this thing off? 1991 Honda Prelude Si with 4 Wheel Steering. I was driving it on Saturday night at Barrett Parkway and was in a parking lot in second gear about to leave. The rpms go up but the car doesn't move any faster and is coasting. I decided to park it and turn it off and try it again. It seemed fine once I started off again then it did the same thing again. It would be in a gear and seem like it was in neutral when I was pressing on the gas when in gear. I stopped the car and to check the clutch fluid, the oil, and the shift linkage to make sure it was going in gear. I look under the car and see oil coming out of the transmission. I left the car there and decided to go to Wal Mart to get some oil and a 17 mm ratchet and socket so I can add more oil to the tranny. I come back and finally get the oil in and put the filler bolt back on and see that there is still oil coming out. I couldn't see where it was coming from because it was to dark. I decided to have the car towed to the Honda shop I used to work at. The next day I go back to get some stuff from my car and I decided to see if I could find that leak. I look on top of the motor near the axles and see that the right side CV axle was coming out of the transmission and it broke the oil seal that holds all the oil in the transmission. There is no way a CV axle could come out like that if it was installed right! I know it is a pain to get it out normally with a flat head or a pry bar if it is in there like it should be. I know that it is his fault because I have smelled oil and saw it on the tranny on the 2nd day that I got it.

I have installed 2 axles in this car and don't know what else to do. Why is the axle not staying in there? I HAVE SNAPPED IT IN THERE! The head is a B20A, bottom end is a B21A1, the tranny is a D2A4. The axle comes out about half an inch or so and leaks oil when it comes out a little bit. I have reaplaced the oil seal and think that it is gone now after putting the axles in and out. If anyone needs me IM on AIM at kikweardragon, Yahoo is djhondafreak, and MSN is djhondafreak@hotmail.com... I really need help with this and have asked MANY people and they don't know what to do.


Modified by 91PreyLude at 1:38 PM 2/24/2005

 

this might be a dumb question but is the snap ring on the axle?
and I thought once the suspension was all bolted up that there shouldn't be that much play in the axle to tranny.

thats just me 2 cents.

 

my guess is the axles arnt the right ones and are too short. good luck on finding the problem

 

Yeah there is a snap ring on the axle... I have tried 2 axles with no luck.

 

that sucks, maybey you should have got it inspected before you handed over the cash, also, the previous owner really has no obligation to help you with the car after the transaction is complete. People sell cars that are screwed up all the time on purpose, should of done your homework and had It checked out.

Good luck with the problems though, hopefully everything goes well....

 

I thought about it and wanted to see if the axle would try to come out after I slide it back in and drive it on the dyno. I tried and was shocked to learn that it comes out in a straight line. I figured it would be the suspension pulling on it when I took corners and then it would slide out. With this evidence I am thinking that it is the wrong axle and isn't long enough.

 

like i said the axle is prolly to short and the wrong one

 

It came out this morning on the interstate! I am so pissed off... Do you think I could put a spacer behind the hub so it would push the axle back towards the tranny for now?

 

probably would work. I would just get the right axle for the car and make sure thats not the problem.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 91PreyLude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah there is a snap ring on the axle... I have tried 2 axles with no luck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtecludeh22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">like I said the axle is prolly to short and the wrong one</TD></TR></TABLE>

how is it too short if you have tried two different axles?

put the spacer in see if that helps

 

This is just a guess, but:

Is it possible that the snap-ring from the very first axle stayed in the transmission and no one noticed?

Maybe you have two snaprings in the differiental and that's preventing the new one from holding the axle in...

 

Yup, check inside the axle tunnel of the tranny.

Also, check the part numbers for the axles you're using.

A little far out, but is your motor and tranny bolted together good and tight?

 

Well, I would like to ask how this is the sellers fault? You put two new axles in after and neither will stay in correct? So, how can you assume he didnt put the axle in correctly in the 1st place? Are you not putting it in correctly?

My advice is you check for that lock ring being up in there... Sounds like ur problem... And blaming the previous owner will get you nowhere...

Arent you the guy whos been banned from preludepower like 4 times now? EDIT: YES, you are...


Modified by JTCdudeman at 3:23 PM 2/25/2005

 

We've been around this issue for some time. I don't think it's the axle as he's supposedly tried another one that he got from the store that's supposed to be the right one and it did/does the same thing.

They have a good idea though, feel on the inner edge of the splines on the differential for anything in the place where the lock ring should go (inside the tranny). You should feel a definate dip where the ring/clip should sit.

And to comment on the whole "There is no way a CV axle could come out like that if it was installed right!" issue. I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that my H22 tranny is doing the same thing right now. Difference is I'm not blaming anyone and I'm just going to fix the problem.

But hey, at least you're not bashing me (at least not that badly!).

 

Actually, another thought comes to mind:

The MANUAL and AUTOMATIC Axles are DIFFERENT.

The splines on the auto versions are longer, I think.

No... actually, it's the splines on the half-shaft are different between the auto and manual... the manual are shorter...

Never mind.

 

Well I changed out the axles and got my money back from Advanced and went to Auto Zone. I got the same part number from the Auto Zone but axle was different. The splines are longer and it was a pain to get it in there. It went it but it didn't want to go through the hub all the way after getting it in there half way. I drove 2 min. down the street and it came out again! I felt inside and didn't feel the snap ring in there. I don't know what else to do... I may just drop insurance on the car and park it until I can save enough money so I can maybe install it myself and just buy the tranny. I know I am going to screw it up after I try to install myself!


Modified by 91PreyLude at 6:07 AM 2/26/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gerhard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually, another thought comes to mind:

The MANUAL and AUTOMATIC Axles are DIFFERENT.

The splines on the auto versions are longer, I think.

No... actually, it's the splines on the half-shaft are different between the auto and manual... the manual are shorter...

Never mind.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually they are the exact same on the auto vs the automatic on both sides. This has been verified many times (and once by me).

 

On the 5th Gen the half-shaft is different... that much I do remember.

It's been a while since I did the swap.

It's good to know the axles are the same, as I've got the two OEM ones from my original Auto prior to the swap.

 

Anyone? Well now I do not know what else to do. My friend works at CV Source and told me to get a spring loaded ???? I don't know what the real name of it is but he will sell it to me for $5. It goes in the inboard joint and pushes it back towards the tranny. I think he said it goes in the Chrysler vans so I don't know if it is going to work. I will tell ya... I will let you know what it is Jason first so you can fix yours... I know how it feels to not be able to drive the Lude. I am driving my old 02 Accord that I bought... I gave it to my girl and owe 8k left on it. The clutch is about shot on it so I got to get my Lude fixed quick. YEAH it is a 5 speed with Vtec

 

Well, I can't get the axle to stay in but it only moves at most an 1/8 an inch. I had to swap hub/nuckle from the parts car to cure my vibration problem. 2 of the lugs where stripped and not tight so the tire was wobbling. I just got back from a test drive and she's good to go.

 

Well I was told that it is my diff. bearings...I don't know that much about transmissions and if there is such a thing in there. I could pull the axle up and down while in there.

 

sounds l;ike the diff is bad then
time to shop for a new tranny or a tranny rebuild.

 

Don't think that the axle will stay in there! I thought that also till on I got the interstate! You may think that I am BSing about this but I am not. I have tried 3 axles now and that is why I called ChrisB. He wanted me to come over on the day (Friday) that the axle came out on the way to work but I couldn't because I just wanted to get it home without towing it again. Jason, unlike what you think, I am trying to help you by warning and telling you what I have been told. I could be a dick and not say anything and let you find out on your own.