Hi Honda-Tech,

I have a rookie question about my girlfriend's Civic that broke down. It's a 2006 Civic, average mileage, in decent shape, manual transmission. She called me and told me she was pressing the gas and the car was revving, but wasn't accelerating. I told her to change gears and try again, and she said the same thing was happening. Then I told her to pull the car over, turn it off, wait a minute and try again; she turned it off and it wouldn't start back up.

She towed it back to her house and is trying to figure out what to do with it. The warranty covers engine and transmission, but I'm not very knowledgeable about cars and have no idea what it is. If it's probably covered by Honda, I'll tell her to just take it in (they charge $108 just to check the car); if it's probably not covered, I'll tell her to just take it to another shop.

Suggestions / reccommendations? Much appreciated.


Shawn

 

when she gave it gas, did the rpms increase or did it just stay the same?

 

I think what he means is that the tachometer was registering increased rpms but the car failed to accelerate forward while pressing the gas and having the car in gear.... sounds like something major is going on inside the transmission to me... I'm no mechanic/licensed technician but my first guess would be some sort of issue with the drive shaft

 

Correct


Thanks for the input

 

Sounds like either a clutch problem or trans, I would bet on the clutch.

If the car is under warranty the clutch would still not be covered, because, it is a wearable part just like brakes.

If she has no problems shifting it from gear to gear I would say the clutch disc is gone, (the lining is worn off the disc), most likely from slipping the clutch pulling out.

 

Yeah the problem is that those leeches at Honda are charging $400 just to take a look at the car. If it's the engine, they'll cover it, but if it's the clutch or anything else, they won't.

They won't even give her an indication of what it could be -- kinda makes me think they're just trying to suck her in for the $400 and any additional work that their ridiculous rates.

Kinda ruins the point of a warranty when they try to jack you either way.

 

clutch not catching? gears too warn to catch maybe?

 

so, why won't that civic start even if the clutch has failed?

 

There is a clutch safety switch that necessitates the clutch peddle to be depressed in order to start the vehicle. Not moving while in gear certainly sounds like a bad clutch - how many miles are on the car? Take it to a private garage that specializes in Hondas - they often do the work considerably less expensive than a Honda dealer. Ask them if they use genuine Honda parts if you want to access quality control.
I got roped in once on a "special" at a private garage - they jacked the price up once I came in with "add-ons". Get quotes and ask questions so that there will be no "surprises".