Hey everyone. Just did an engine swap on the 2.3cl(98 accord copy cat) 5 speed manual and it went great, just put another f23a1 in. It runs great but my only problem is, is that when the car is off, it will shift into all the gears fine, you hear the clicks and itll start in gear with the clutch down, and go when you let out the clutch itll move. But when you turn it on, it only really goes in to 2nd and sometimes 4th, and rarely into reverse, sometimes 3rd. When you try 1st 3rd, 5th, and reverse it feels like if it doesn't go in it just bends the shift cable or something? Not like a brick wall or broken gears or anything. If anyone has any idea or if I can elaborate better, please let me know. Thanks!(So sorry I couldnt find CL thread in here)

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As for it staring in gear, this is due to the interlock switch on the clutch pedal and it's adjustment. This could still be adjusted properly, but acting up due to the shift issue, read further.

With the transmission struggling to go into gears, it sounds like the clutch pedal is not pushing enough fluid to disengage the clutch far enough to allow the synchros to mesh properly inside the transmission.
To fix this, watch the throw of the clutch lever at the transmission. To me this says that you either need to bleed the master or slave cylinder. You may also have a bad slave that is not building enough fluid to disengage the clutch far enough.
Collapsed pressure plate springs would also act the same way.

A test for this, if it were possible would be to block the clutch open a if you were pushing the clutch pedal in, but directly on the transmission, then see if if the transmission shifts properly. I don't know if this is possible.

Some of this diagnosis would depend on if you have bent or readjusted the shift linkage, causing the initial problem.

I miss the cable clutches as they take a lot of issues out of the the system, but I think Accords last year to use a cable was 1989.