I have a 1996 Honda Civic CX Hatchback with 245K on it. I am putting a rebuild engine in the car, should I have my manual 5 speed transmission rebuilt as well?

It works fine right now, but it only cost about $350.00 to have it rebuilt.
Some people tell me they never heard of one of these going out in a non performance car.

Or is this silly because I will need a clutch replacement again someday and I should just do it then if it needs it. I just want to make the car as reliable as possible because I sometimes take trips a long ways out and towing would be $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

By the way my stick shift moves about an inch when I am in second gear and accelerating. Never falls out of gear or "feels" like it is going to. Is this a symptom of problems to come or just normal.

Thanks for your advice!

 

Transmissions certainly will wear out and need maintanence as well. The civic manual trans has its weak points, if a quality rebuild can be had I would do it. 350 is too cheap for a proper high mileage rebuild however.

 

The shifter moving under acceleration isn't symptomatic of a transmission problem, the engine and transmission move under acceleration and since the shift linkage, and by extension the shifter are bolted to it, they have to move along with it.

If it's not making any funny noises and shifts well with no grinding or notchiness there probably isn't that much point in doing a rebuild. $350 wont get you much a rebuild with shop rate labor and new parts.

 

Thanks for your help. By the way I made an error on the rebuild price. They told me it would be around $550.00. Hope that sounds about right. That is if I bring the transmission to them.

 

Well, there is a mild sound it makes when the clutch is down. I THINK it is more or less normal. Too bad I can just in cert a sound bite.

 

If it makes noise with the clutch pedal depressed (clutch disengaged) the throwout bearing is bad. If it makes noise with the clutch out (clutch engaged) in neutral it's a bearing in the transmission (usually the input shaft bearing)

You can, upload to youtube and simply copy and paste the URL into your post with no tags around it and it will embed.

 

Priceless advice, thank you! Sounds like throwout bearing, which is okay because I will have it replaced along with the clutch.