Hello, so long story short, I was working on my 97 Civic HX and it was on jacks. When I lowered it, the driver side on the ttansmission made a pop noise and transmission fluid started leaking. I changed the CV joint seal thinking I had cracked or pinched it. Once I finished, I took it for a drive and it drove well until I came to a stop. When I went forward, I heard a popping nose and then the car wouldn't go forward anymore. There was a grinding noise coming from the drivers side when the clutch was engaged. Even with the transmission in neutral it makes the noise. Took it home and thought the CV joint had broken. However, when I removed it, it seems ok. Further investigation led me to insert my fingers in the output splines where the CV joint goes in, when I spin the passenger side wheel, I can stop the splines on the driver side. This makes me think the differential is shot, but I'm not sure. I've never worked on the transmission, this is new to me. Anyone had something similar happen? Could you give me some ideas what might be wrong? I'm thinking it's either the differential or the input shaft, but I'm not sure. I want to be 100% sure before o start tearing it apart. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Either the axle was popping out, or the differential is done. Maybe drain the fluid and look for chunks.

 

Thanks for your input. That's my next move before I start taking it apart again. Hopefully that's not it. I'm not sure about replacing the differential, but it sounds expensive. Thanks.

 

Would be better to simply find another transmission.

 

Not better... but likely cheaper.

 

How is that not better? Cheaper, easier, and better..... 'cause y'know, it works?

 

Fix what you have and then you KNOW what you got. Sourcing a used 30 year-old transmission is a gamble, so you may end up with another one with equal problems... or worse. It was cheaper, but it isn't necessarily better. Some times you get lucky... some times you don't.

 

Update, so I drained the MTF and found no metal chunks at all. Though maybe it was a badly installed cv axle, so I refilled the transmission and was going to put it back together to try it again. However, when I was installing the cv axle on the driver side, I tried to rotate the cv axles to check for grinding and when I did, the passenger side would not rotate with the driver side. I rotated the passenger side and the driver side won't rotate. At this point I'm pretty sure it has to do with the transmission, just not sure what it would be. The driver side seems to be the side that is completely shot as when I rotate the passenger side by hand, the driver side feels as if it is grinding it it wants to get traction but it just won't. Any input and advise will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

That's good advise, I appreciate it. I really hope I don't have to rebuild it, but if I do, so be it. Only one way to learn.

 

I think at this point the transmission has to come apart.

 

When you rotate the driveshafts by hand to test, make sure the transmission is in gear (not neutral). It's easier for diff to spin gears in neutral than to spin the opposite driveshaft. Having the transmission in gear will let the engine hold the diff steady so only internals will spin.

I imagine you already tried this but thought I would throw it out there.

 

Thanks, that's what I'm thinking. I guess I'm going to have to take it off and figure out what the problem is. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the input. I have not tried that, but I did start the car and place it in gear, neither wheel would turn, though I was getting an indication at the speedometer that the wheels were moving. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the input shaft. I'll give it a try and go down there. Thanks.

 

This would suggest that the transmission is at least functioning internally... as in the main/counter shafts are turning the differential which is in turn driving the differential, thus moving the VSS and causing the speedometer to move. Check your inner axle joints to make sure that they are fully seated and re-test.

 

Yeesh. It sound like diff internals have been shattered or stripped. In order to get a speed reading like that, the diff housing has to be spinning.


Yes the axle splines could also be stripped, but that would be easy to detect by popping your axles and half shafts out of the diff.