I've got a on EM1 and the shifter feels HORRIBLE. I've never driven another EM1 but it feels like I put a stick in a puddle of mud and I'm moving it around. It feels really heavy, meaty and sluggish. It makes it hard to shift quickly. I feel like I'm gonna break it if it shift to hard. It's almost as if it's moving through molasses. I've heard a lot of good things about Honda's shifters and how precise and light they are. Im positive that what I'm feeling isn't that. Had anyone dealt with these symptoms, and if so, do you know what's wrong?

 

Throw it in first gear and jack it up and take a look at the shifter. Something might be cracked in there some where.

 

Sounds like all your bushings are bad

 

Didn't you recently post about having a grind at high rpm in 3rd gear?

 

Drain and refill with Honda Manual Transmission oil. Many DIY's online to show how.

 

^^^


When the car is off is it hard to put in gear also?
X2

 

someone may have replaced the bushings improperly. in any case, ES replacements for it are around $20. i typically steer away from urethane bushings, but for this application they are good.

 

Use ES bushings on everything except the trailing arm bushing. Use oem bushing for the trailing arm.

 

I apologize for the late reply. I've been out of town with no internet for two weeks. To answer all questions, yes I recently posted about having a third gear grind only when quick shifting at high rpm (just to clarify) and yes it is still stiff when moving it in gear even when the car is turned off. I have not jacked it up and changed the trans oil but I plan to do so when I change the bushings. I'm gonna order some ES bushings. I can't seem to find any thorough DIYs on changing the shifter bushings on my car. Does anyone have any tips on how to do so? Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

Go find an integra shift linkage, way better.

 

I'm not looking to do any modifications, just trying to eliminate my problem. But thanks for the input.

 

What about the integra linkage is "better"?


OP start with replacing the bushings with Energy Suspension ones. I do that on all of the old Hondas that I buy and it makes a huge difference.

 

I gotta find a way to get him under the car somehow. Whats the point of playing guessing games? Get the **** under there and see whats going. Inspecting the problem and then if you can't make a decision, than yeah throw the question onto the forum. Not come on here looking to find out what the problem is.

 

The integra shifter has a better fulcrum point than the civic. The linkage is wider to accept the wider base.

An integra linkage and shifter is a nice upgrade for civics.

To fix your issue...its likely the bearing/bushing that the shifter pivots on. If that bearing wears out, it will be loose. Someone might have gotten under the car, cranked down the bolt, and bent the linkage tabs inward to "fix it". Or they may have done some other ghetto ****. Like install a no-name shifter with a shitty bearing or no bearing.

If you need a bearing, its more effective to buy a shifter. In which case...it might be advantageous to buy an integra linkage, which feels much more solid.

Not sure why stabilizer rod bushings would cure a shifter thats too tight.

You may also have the wrong fluid and/or trans problems or a linkage thats bashed in.

 

I'll jack the car up and take a look underneath as soon as I can. I'm the case that nothing is bashed in or completely ruined, I'm gonna change the bushings regardless because a car that's 16 years old probably needs it anyway. Would the Integra linkage just bolt right in? And would I go with any model Integra, or is the GSR preferable?

 

Any model. It feels way better than the SI. I did that with a spare linkage from my cousins gsr partout. I'm glad I swapped it out. Of course I replace the bushings as well as the gasket on the tranny and also a new linkage boot. I'm a maintenance type of person and always make an attempt to do it all while I'm in there.

 

Alright then maybe I'll look into that. Do you think there's any DIYs out there for it? Is it a common upgrade? I've never driven another Si or Integra so I can't really compare.

 

You can switch out the entire linkage for an integra linkage and it will bolt up. The only time people replace just the shifter is when they still have a D-series and have no choice but to re-use there D-series linkage, then modify the integra shifter to fit it.

edit: just follow up on the inspection of the bushings, make sure your motor mounts are good ( no cracks ) and go from there.

 

Keep the civic stabilizer arm. If you use an integra arm, you will need to bend it a little to clear the rear O2 sensor. Or at least I had to do that when I installed one on my EM1.

The actual shift rod from any integra will bolt in. The shifer lever then bolts onto the shift rod.