Hi, I have a 98 Honda civic DX, has the D16Y7 with the s40 transmission( can get more info if needed) long story short. I did a clutch kit ( stage 2) replacement, I put it all back together had no issues for a week? Started driving from Washington - Nebraska, a randomly my clutch went from stiff to spongy like really badly, I looked at my clutch line and everything looked fine, checked fluid etc. looked great, started it up an it acted fine for about 50 miles? Then I lost 3rd completely, ended up having to drive 1200 miles with no third. Never had an issue with third before the clutch replacement though?. But got to Nebraska, bled my clutch an the fluid was just straight black an metallic. I did a full clutch replacement again, a replaced the clutch master cylinder, and the clutch slave cylinder, along with a clutch line that was just not worth keeping. I fully bled the clutch with my brother ( how I normally do it) checked/ topped off my transmission fluid ( I use gear oil always have in all 20 civics I’ve owned an they never had an issue?). But I still have no third an my clutch is spongy no matter what I do now. It shifts perfectly fine into every gear but third. But it’s having issues starting cause the clutch isn’t engaging fully? If I pump it a couple times it’ll turn right over.

I don’t make enough to just buy a new transmission, etc a swap it. So I’m hoping someone has some idea on what I either did wrong, or maybe an idea on what could be causing it? ( I can shift into third, it doesn’t grind at all it just takes sum force, but when I do it acts like 4th is gone?) someone please help me… I’m not one to beg for help, but I bought this car for 2k, an I’ve put 3k into it between fully rebuilding the engine and going through the transmission/clutch issues.. an I don’t make enough to just buy a new car🫤. Any help, any ideas is appreciated! Worst case I’ll rebuild my transmission an replace the shift linkage. But I’m scared as I’ve never rebuilt a manual transmission. Only rebuilt a dodge chargers and it was auto😅😅… thank you again!!!

 

look at the pedal pivot, could be crud built up in there or f there is a bushing in there it could be done for, look at the linkage, could be crud in there. On my 95 I had a stiff shifter, It would shift but felt real tight. I took the cover off and sprayed PB blaster all over the nylon bushings and cleaned the crap out, shifts fine now

 

Oh okay, I wasn’t sure if the clutch pivot could cause issues like that? Haven’t messed with them too much before ( besides replacing the master cylinder lol) I’ll take a look/ clean them both tomorrow an re bleed my clutch ( it’s dark an metallic again) thank you for the ideas!!! This car has been a handful, seems like the guy I bought it from didn’t do maintenance at all lol