I'm desperately hoping that I'm wrong about this, but I think the '88 SI trans I just swapped into my 88 CRX may be bad (will be my 2nd bad trans if it is!). It works, but first gear makes more noise than I think it should, second is quieter but still makes noise, and 3rd on up sound perfect. The noise doesn't sound quite like gear whine (what you hear in reverse); it's more like white noise or static.

Somebody please tell me this isn't a bad front bearing... or at least describe the symptoms you notice when the front bearing fails so I can decide for myself......

 

Main input shaft bearing sounds it to me. 55$ part but you gotta split the case.

 

Yeah, I'm really hoping to avoid that. Did it once already to my last trans just to find out that input shaft bearing surface was toast and it had broken shift forks....

Assuming it is a bad bearing, how long can I limp the trans along? Is it a "pull and fix it right now" kind of deal or can it wait till spring and not cause any additional damage?

 

u might as well replace all the bearings while you're there...

 

IF I split the case that is....

I'd still like to hear from someone who has had a bearing go bad on them and find out what the symptoms were and how long I can get away with running it.... I don't know how these bearings fail. If it's just that the race galls out, then I can probably run it as is for a while. If the bearing/shell disintigrates, then I guess I have to pull the trans back out on the next snow free day.

 

So nobody can tell me what the symptoms of a bad bearing are? I don't have enough experience with Honda's to know if I'm even on the right track here... And I'm sure you all can imagine how pissed I'd be if I split the case only to find nothing wrong!

Any advice appreciated...

 

I already did tell you. Yes Mine went out and did the same thing, got louder at higher speeds. I don't know what else I can do to help you.

 

Doesn't sound like mine from your description. Mine only makes noise in first and second gear and gets quieter as speed increases. I'm looking for a detailed description of what to look for and not just a "yep, that sounds about right" agreement.

Thanks for the help though. It's a start at least.

 

Im going through this also. It sounds like i have no fluid in there, but i do. A good way to tell if its the bearing. For me, when the engine is warming up i hear it the most. its sounds like if i have a rod knock somewhere in my engine. while the engine is warming up, press on the clutch and try to hear any noise or sounds coming from . If you don't hear anything, then sure its not your motor, but when you slowly release the clutch and hear the knocking sound then you know its your tranny. But i know its the bearing in the tranny. A couple of mechanics told me that and said i need to replace it. I hope i didn't confused you, but thats how i knew my tranny was going bad. try to replace the fluid with some OEm honda tranny fluid w/ a lil of the lucas snycromesh lube to help with reduce noise and so it shift alil smoother. but remember its not a cure for your problem. You still need to service it. I will eventually. Hopefully before it gives up on me. good luck and let me know how its turn out.

 

Sorry to say but if your gonna tear the trans apart you should just use your time waiting to search for a trans to replace it with. Decreases your down time.

 

Well, the guy I bought the trans from said he'd make good if the tranny turned out to be bad... We'll see. I'd rather just swap than try to fix it anyway.

 

If you have a catalytic converter, you may wanna check the heat shield. Its the only noise I can relate yours. The heat shield will make a strange and of course metal vibration noise in deep/low rpms, and when switching gears. Might also in high rpms. Hope it helps.

 

i picked up a tranny from an H-T member about 4 months ago, just got it in the car...instant noise...when i push the clutch in the noise goes away but underload it makes a gnarly cclclcclcllclclcclclclclc, noise...sucks, rt4wd trannies are hard to find in cali and he wanted top dollar for a tranny that he claimed was good...I have a feeling it's the input shaft...

 

ya i just had that same noise and crack the tran open replaced all of the bearing.If u want u can call the shop i went thro to find the bearing kit #(925)687-5660. the guy that owns the place dave chan.he is very helpfull.

 

Due to bad weather, Christmas, and me only having a carport, the car has just been sitting for the last few weeks but I'm finally getting around to it. I'll take a close look at the catalytic heat shield this evening, but my hopes aren't high. I'm basically ready to just sell the car and be done with it (I have three other vehicles anyway). My question is this.

I plan to disclose this potential problem, but can I sell it as something that's driveable or will it need to be fixed ASAP? In other words, how long can these transmissions live once the bearing starts to go?

 

I had a bad input shaft bearing my trans. It was loud grind/whirring noise at low rpm usually in in 1st 2nd and 3rd gears. wasnt noticeable at higher rpm and higher gears (4th and 5th). But over time it got louder and more annoying. when i pressed the clutch in while idling the sound was practically nonexistent. But when in neutral without the clutch pressed in the tranny was basically LOUD. Sounded like I could hearing the last remaining bearings spinning around and hitting each other.

I was lucky and had a spare tranny I swapped in, but its only temporary. I opened up my tranny and behold there were almost no ***** left in the bearings and the loose ones were on the tranny case magnet/stuck in grease.

REPLACE the bearings dude. You say youve replaced bearings before (or was going to until the input surface was discovered toast). Its maybe 2-3 hours of work and really easy. Your better off knowing you got brand new bearings.

You can run many months with bad bearings. I did it. But it just got worse. I used my tranny with the bad bearings for about 6-8 months atleast. Its a bit of a gamble because your wearing the tranny down with the missing/free floating bearing.

 

It's less a matter of labor than it is of convenience. I don't have a garage or a decently clean place to do the work, and with the current weather I don't really want to try to drop the trans (again), tear it down, do the work, reassamble it, and re-install it out in the cold and dirty carport that I have. All just to put the car up for sale.

Maybe I will though. If I can find a new shift for then maybe I'll just do the DX trans that was toasted before I got this current transmission.

 

I have the same thing going on with mine right now. It sucks, all you can do is rebuild or get one.