I have a 91 crx with the a6 and has a Lx tranny.

Today after leaving work, I tried to put my car into first and it wouldn't go at all! I tried shifting into any gears but wouldn't. When trying to go into reverse it made a horrible screeching and almost grinding noise. Immediately I stopped and when back to neutral. Then when trying to go back into first it then had let me!! So after getting onto the highway it shifted into 5th just fine. After the highway drive and coming to a stop light it did the same thing! Wouldn't let me go into a gears and had a pressure that wouldn't allow me to do so. Tomorrow in having it towed to my small shop to put it on the lift. I'm just trying to figure how what could it be? Some of my thoughts on it was the cable could be broke? Could need to be tighten? Clutch could be done for? I'm not too sure. Haven't really messed with transmissions, clutches or the cable ever. Really hoping I could get some insight on this issue. Thanks so much.

 

if you are feeling a "pressure" that is preventing you from putting it in gear (and it grinds into reverse), it sounds like your clutch pedal is weak or the clutch is otherwise not disengaging. I would start by checking clutch fluid and checking the clutch slave cylinder (most likely to go out). The clutch pedal pushes clutch fluid from the fluid reservior (aka clutch master cylinder) down to the clutch slave cylinder on the transmission. When the clutch slave cylinder receives the fluid pressure, the cylinder expands to push a bar that (blah blah blah) and effectively disengages the clutch.

Long story short= low clutch fluid, mis-adjusted clutch pedal, and/or faulty clutch cylinder (either one) are common causes for grinding gears....because the clutch pedal isn't getting the proper "release". Before you pay to tow it, I would check the fluid....check the pedal to see if it feels normal, and check the slave cylinder for full "expansion" onto the bar from the transmission.

 

if you find yourself completely stranded, some people can drive their 5speeds without using the clutch...it's a learned skill and takes proper timing between revs and shifting.

Basically, hold the shifter to feel the pressure...then rev up to about 2500rpm and get the revs gently fall. At the right time you will feel your opportunity to slip it into the gear you are pressured out of. This is much easier for the higher gears and I don't even know if it is possible for 1st gear.?? :0

 

 

crx are cable transmissions they didn't have hydrolic clutch yet..



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Clutch master cylinder probably
Does it leak under the steering wheel
Any stains on the carpet? Had the same
Problem couldnt go into gear with car on only off
I bled my clutch and it fixed the problem

 

Nothing is leaking. And yes mine is cable which means no slave cylinder....

 

How does the pedal feel? If it feels weak or doesn't spring all the way back up, I'd be checking fluid and bleeding it.

 

do you even own a ef9?

op
worst case scenario, your diff is on the way out, or is gone. basically your pinon gear/or your pinon shaft sheared off. to see if this is true, just take out passenger axle and look through the diff hole. if the pinon shaft is still there, then you're okay on that part.

not so bad scenario, your clutch is gone, and just needs to be replaced. might just be a spring from the clutch disc that is caught up, forcing you to not be able to engage the clutch to shift.

least, would be replacing your clutch cable.

 

wrong model year dude. 92+ use hydraulic clutch. 88-91 has cable clutch.

 

there is no fluid.lol. cable trans. no hydraulic anything.

OP to me, it sounds as if your clutch isn't disengaging. have you ever replaced the clutch? Know how many miles are on it?

 

No haven't replaced it yet and I'm not sure on the mileage.

 

Ooops. Guess I should know this stuff since I have a '91 civic..lol I don't even know if it is cable/hydraulic. I just got it last month.

OP, maybe you will get lucky and it is just the cable. I am way more familiar with hydraulic clutch systems, but it miiiiight be same to assume that one thing is similar. usually a clutch (itself) will not go out immediately. The clutches I have worn out would give signs of being weak (they would grind gears unless I clutched for 1 full second) before they eventually started slipping and continued to excessive slipping.

So maybe your clutch did not suffer a catastrophic instant failure. Maybe it is the cable (or something else) that is failing to disengage the clutch so you can shift??

 

Yes I'm hoping the cable just needs to be adjusted!

 

I had this happen to by 74 beetle. Took the engine out and 2 of the springs came off the clutch. It had scraped against the pressure plate and the resulting damage and dust/debris had clogged the area. Probably worth looking at your clutch. I'm not sure if EFs have throwout bearings or not. But mine was wiggling and preventing the gears from aligning properly. I know there is an equivilant.

Anyhow, as far as experience like this on my EF I have none. It could be a bad clutch cable. I know I've replaced those on cars in the past. Best of luck mate.

 

tighten up the clutch cable if you can and see if that helps. i sort of have the same problem but i have a 91 LS trans in my EF it wouldnt go in any gears or it would bevery hard to put them in. i got a new clutch cable from rock auto for like 35 shipped and it seemed to help but i am still having issues with it being hard to get in gear and grinding at some points. Try adding some motor oil to it like 10w30 see if that helps at all as well. also adjust your clutch pedal.

post #5 this might help

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/how-adjust-clutch-cable-2309299/

 

Turned out my clutch springs broke and fell out lol. Replaced the clutch and adjusted. Back to normal! Now I'm onto a z6 swap