Sorry this is a long post:
From past threads and the use of the search ( ) I managed to figure out that a lot of Preludes have a problem with 5th gear grinding. What I want to know is, how can it be fixed, because the question was never really answered in any of the searches I've done? My 5th gear just started it up about 2 days ago, and it ONLY does it at higher speeds (~75mph or better, aka interstate driving ). It does NOT do it driving around at normal speeds (45-65 or below).

I noticed it the other night on the way home, when shifting very lightly...So today I went to Honda and bought their "Genuine Honda M/T Fluid" which is basically 10w30/10w40 motor oil, and I'm going to flush out the fluid in there now, and try it out. My buddy has a 99 Prelude, and he had the same problem with his 5th gear, and he said he bought GMs tranny fluid for his and it's worked like a charm since (over 3-4 months ago). What do you guys think? Should this work, or is it necessary to replace my 5th gear syncro? Thanks!

 

it wont hurt to try the fluid. its cheaper than replacing the syncs... or even the tranny.
does it grind all the time? or just every once in awhile???

 

Is there any way Honda will recall this? It seems like EVERYONE with a 5th gen has this grinding noise. Maybe we should bumrush Honda with calls.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elkins911 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does it grind all the time? or just every once in awhile???</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I've only noticed it at high speeds, and I haven't been going fast a lot lately, so once in a while. It hasn't done it once during normal driving. It's only done it those few times I've been on the interstate...My dad is a mechanic and took it for a drive and he didn't notice it, so I'm thinking it is in need of new fluid.

 

it sounds like its not even a problem. you might not have engaged the clutch enough... or something else happend.

 

my brother's prelude just had this problem about 3 weeks ago, he took it to the honda dealership and they fixed the 5th gear grind, my brother didn't find out what it was but he's almost sure it was the synchro. they didn't even refuse to fix it even though he took it with the bolt-ons he has.

his 5th gear grinded only the first time you went into fifth when driving the car after starting it. it also grinded going directly from neutral to 5th.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by caLiH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my brother's prelude just had this problem about 3 weeks ago, he took it to the honda dealership and they fixed the 5th gear grind, my brother didn't find out what it was but he's almost sure it was the synchro. they didn't even refuse to fix it even though he took it with the bolt-ons he has.

his 5th gear grinded only the first time you went into fifth when driving the car after starting it. it also grinded going directly from neutral to 5th.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm guessin your bros lude is still under warranty though. A lot of people on po.com have tried using GM synchromesh MTF and say it works wonders and stops any grinding. I would give that a try.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Elkins911 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it sounds like its not even a problem. you might not have engaged the clutch enough... or something else happend.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, I tried it again on the way home from work, making sure the clutch was in (I even took my time shifting to make sure) and it still did it...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bolt on lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm guessin your bros lude is still under warranty though. A lot of people on po.com have tried using GM synchromesh MTF and say it works wonders and stops any grinding. I would give that a try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My buddy in town has a turbo Lude, and he tried the GM synchromesh and he said it fixed it right up...I might just try it

 

Mine does it too, has been for a few months now, I just ignored it, but doing so was bad, because now, i fear my 5th gear syncros are completely fried because when I put it in 5th gear, it will pop out if I dont keep my hand on the shifter the whole time anyone know where I can get a good tranny for cheap....

 

About 3 months ago, my car started with the 5th gear grind too. It would grind going 4th to 5th regardless of RPM or vehicle speed, and reverse was usually difficult to engage as well. At that point, I just resigned myself to the fact that it was busted, and that I would need to take it to the dealer to get it fixed. It is still under warranty. Well I kept putting off making a dealer appointment. And I kept driving the car around. And the grind kept getting worse and worse to the point where it would grind EVERY time going 4th to 5th. Then one morning, about 1 month after the grinding started, I'm driving to work and getting on the highway. I'm about to do the 4 to 5th shift, so I cringe as I move the shifter waiting for the terrible crunch noise. But nothing happens. It slips right into 5th. No noise. No crunch. I was surprised and thought it was a fluke that the gear slipped in with no grind. But as I continued driving, I shifted back and forth between 4th and 5th several times. No noise at all! It completely stopped grinding for no apparent reason just as suddenly as it had started grinding. That was like 2 months ago that it stopped making noise. And my 5th gear has not grinded since... Wierd, eh?

Andrew

 

Hey what's up Brad....but for all you guys that are wondering it really is a main thing that has been noticed in all H22 Tranny's. Alot of people think it's there syncro going out but it's actually the fluid they stick in the tranny's that just don't help over a period of time. I have been using the GM syncromesh fluid for about 4 months and it's the best thing I could have did for my car. It got rid of the 5th gear grind and I was having problems with me reverse....and it shifts like it did when it was new. I would almost say better than new. But you can get it at any General Motors dealership for usually $ 6 a quart. and this also will work for any other b...d...h...kseries motors. It's definately worth it.

 

my 5th gear doesn't grind unless i am full throttle shifting at over 110mph

 

just another question on the subject, I also notice my car is a BITCH to shift into 2nd gear, when Im driving it hard, such as over 6-7 grand, I mean, i have to PULL to get it to go into 2nd...but when i drive it normal or light, it slids right in.... anyone else have this?

 

5th gear grind what's that.

 

how many quarts of MTF does our tranny hold? I'm gonna try that GM Syncromesh since my 5th gear grinds like a *****

 

It holds about 2.5qt, I'm really happy with synchromesh in my transmission. You'll be amazed at the difference.