So i bought a 1991 civic wagon rt4wd, and my dad drove it back from Maryland for me and on his way back to Pittsburgh it started to make a bunch of noise so he stopped and had it towed the rest of the way. When it showed up at my house i tried to drive it and it almost seems like the tranny locked up. i just noticed today that the rear tires are taller then the front and i think this caused it, does anyone know where i can get the tranny/ transfer case fixed or a new one? thanks

 

anyone?

 

Why do you think that the tire size had anything to do with the trans locking up unless he was driving the thing home in 4x4 i dought it had anything to do with it. I am also not sure if the wagons are all-time all wheel drive or if it can be locked in and out.

 

Can it go into gear at all? does it fight to?

Start up and idle ok?

 

isnt it that the differential or w.e gets messed up with diff sizes?? just something i've heard... also wondering if true...

 

it runs great not a noise its when u start moving, engine on or not. it will go a couple feet then u hear a loud clunk and it will go a couple feet and a loud clank.

 

check all of your cv joints

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ys1civicsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why do you think that the tire size had anything to do with the trans locking up unless he was driving the thing home in 4x4 i dought it had anything to do with it. I am also not sure if the wagons are all-time all wheel drive or if it can be locked in and out. </TD></TR></TABLE>



Driving with different tyre sizes wont cause this problem. the worst it will do is cause a static load on the wheels, similar to when you jack the car up and let it down with the handbrake on. There is also nothing in the Viscous coupler that would clunk.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by markk449 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it runs great not a noise its when u start moving, engine on or not. it will go a couple feet then u hear a loud clunk and it will go a couple feet and a loud clank.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is this while driving in a straight line? While accelerating or decelerating?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by helpmycivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check all of your cv joints</TD></TR></TABLE>

Im not sure the exact layout of the drivetrain, but you might want to check the center support bearing in the driveshaft to the rear and any u-joints in the driveshaft.

 

i should of said the motor runs great, no matter how i drive it still makes that noise. the noise is comming right by the coupler

 

i worked with a guy that the toyota version of the awd civic wagon (whatever that is). anyway he had different size tires on the front and back and it did exactly what you describe...move a little and lock up.
yes it puts a load on the tires, but i think the gears lock up before the tires will let loose. get 4 of the same tires and hope there isn't severe damage

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zrickety &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i worked with a guy that the toyota version of the awd civic wagon (whatever that is). anyway he had different size tires on the front and back and it did exactly what you describe...move a little and lock up.
yes it puts a load on the tires, but i think the gears lock up before the tires will let loose. get 4 of the same tires and hope there isn't severe damage</TD></TR></TABLE>

Theres no gears to lock up though, it uses a series of discs in a viscous fluid.

 

Get under the car and remove/unbolt the driveshaft that connects the tranny up front to the rear differential - if the noise goes away then I'd say you need a new rear diff.

If the noise is till there it's probably the transmission itself.

They are separate, and one can go bad while the other is just fine.

 

Check the u joints! Just grab the driveshaft on either side and try to twist them. I have had to do two driveshafts my old wagon. You can't replace them unless you want to have a custom one made you have to replace the whole thing. It sucks I know.

A loud clunk could be the joint slipping back and forth, i wish i could find a pick of mine, the needle bearings were falling out! Otherwise sp33 is right could be rear diff with way to much play banging around.

 

U joints, mounts, tranny, axles (front or rear), rear diff - it could be a lot of things.

It's very hard to e-diagnose sounds/vibrations/sensations.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlackLudeSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

A loud clunk could be the joint slipping back and forth, i wish i could find a pick of mine, the needle bearings were falling out! Otherwise sp33 is right could be rear diff with way to much play banging around.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think my U joints are dying, havent had time to check it out though.

 

Try asking this question on hondacivicwagon.com.

 

i should of said the motor runs great, no matter how i drive it still makes that noise. the noise is comming right by the coupler