Hi all,

Recently purchased a 1998 Honda Civic DX from a Honda dealership (it was a trade-in from the first owner).

Car has 117,000 miles on it; manual transmission.

Here's the problem (below), I've searched through archived threads (came up with mainly grinding issues, short shifter installs, etc.) and the FAQ (unless I missed something, I only noticed fluid changes, short shifters, etc).


Issue:

At times (regardless of weather or car temp.), it's a bit hard to get it into the gear (whether it be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, R). Basically, at times, when I try to shift into a gear, usually Reverse, it won't go in all the way. It'll go halfway then I have to mess with it and get it all the way. Or, I'll have to go back to neutral then try to go to Reverse again.

This is my first Honda, so I don't know much about it (as well as cars in general). I'm assuming it's the stock motor / trans.

Please help if you can.

Thanks!

 

This is completely normal for a Honda.

 

Its completely normal for most manual trannys. Don't worry about it.

 

Yep...now that I think about it, the only car I've driven that didn't do this was a 6-spd BMW 3-series.

 

maybe the problem has to do with the clutch?

for reverse, remember: "first then reverse"

 

If its just reverse I wouldn't say there is a problem. Theres no reverse gear syncro, and unlike all the other gears that are always in a constant mesh and only collars are shifted, when shifting into reverse you're moving the actual revese idler gear between a gear on the mainshaft and a gear on the countershaft.

If it doesn't want to go into forward gears easily thats likely a clutch release issue.

 

You possibly could get some improvement in the hard shifting by draining the transmission fluid and replacing it with genuine Honda MTF. It's also possible that the current MTF is low.

 

It is also the other gears, not just reverse.

I guess I'll look into draining and replacing the fluid. What amount of fluid should this require (quarts)? ...gotta go look for pics on where the drain plug / re-fill part is on the tranny (i'll likely get help)


94EG8: if it is a clutch release issue, what are the 'fixes' for that issue? Clutch replacement?

 

 

Thanks all!

Another thing....


Are any special tools required to replace/refill the MTF?


And, that pic says to check the fluid when the vehicle is level on the ground...i haven't work on a honda before....wouldn't I need to jack up the vehicle to complete this?

 

You'll need a funnel with a long flexible stem.

Checking the MTF level or refilling with MTF can be done on level ground as you only need to remove the upper fill bolt.

 

instead of filling it threw the filler hole and getting a long *** tube and funnel you can take off the speed sensor thing on the top of the tranny and fill it from there.

 

A bad clutch disc and pressure plate wont cause the sort of problem you're having. Free play not adjusted correctly or a bad master/slave cylinder or clutch hardline and softline can though.