first off.......long time reader, first time poster.

anyway, i recently bought a 88 crx si w/ 1st gen b16 swap. The car runs excellent with the exception of a knock sensor code and the problem i'm about to tell you about.

since i've had the car, the tranny has been an issue. 2nd grinds at high rpms when i get into it, 3rd grinds almost every time, 4th grinds some times and 5th and reverse grind without fail, every time. The clutch also engages really low, and almost feels like it doesn't engage all the way. A friend also noticed that the shifter/linkage seems to move around a lot. He also has a crx w/b16 swap, and his shifter/linkage seemed more "solid".

I read through all the post about b-series tranny grinds and went ahead and changed my fluid with GM syncromesh. The new fluid made a little bit of a differance as i can get into all gears (except 5th) without grinding, if i take it easy. If i dont make an effort to shift easily 3rd and 4th will still grind.

Now, the wierd part. There have been a few times where i couldn't get into gear, period. I was in traffic and couldn't get into first. I basically had to force into gear, and got a healthy grind. This will happen without warning, and then dissapear.

At first, i just figured the cable was out of adjustment. I messed with that numerous times, with little to no result. So i'm pretty much stumped. If it was just a grinding tranny, i could except it, replace it, and move on. But I just cant believe that EVERY gear is going out. And then the incosistancy of the whole thing.............grrrrr

I know this all sounds kind of confusing, but if this sounds like something you've experienced, speak up please.

FYI: the car is using HCP mounts, and a normal 88 clutch cable.


Modified by JSpin at 5:47 PM 2/16/2004

 

you might need a new clutch. grinding will sometimes happens when the clutch is worn out. also alot of play in a shifter may cause alittle grinding. probably your rubber bushing are worn out which is causing the play. you should go buy a set of new bushing and put them on, it should be smooth shifting after that. let me know if it still grinds after the bushing change

 

also, they say to only use honda manual tranny fluid...that may help...plus b series trannys are known for grinding

 

alot of people use gm syncromesh so the syncromesh isnt grinding

 

I would agree with the clutch idea, however, supposedly the car had an ACT installed with the swap, which only has about 10k on it. And, it still grabs fairly hard, once it's in gear.

When i was talking about the shifter moving around, i was talking about the whole thing; shifter and linkage. I'm not really sure how thats all connected, but it seems like there could be a bolt missing.

I'll be installing my new AEBS intake manifold this weekend, so i should have the time to take a look at everything down there.

Any more ideas would be appreciated, later all!

 

First off, welcome.

Second, sounds like you need to adjust your clutch engagement so that your clutch doesnt engage when the peadal is at the floor.

Third, what kinda of shift linkage do you have? HASport or the like where you adjust it with bolts or is Just the simple cut and weld?

Forth, Your tranny grinds probley arnt going to go away with getting new fluid. The Honda tranny fuid or the GM Synco mesh will help, but its not going to cure it. You really just need to buy a new tranny that has no grinds to start withf and use good fluids on it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by paybac4223 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">also, they say to only use honda manual tranny fluid...that may help...plus b series trannys are known for grinding</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, only Cable B-Series are. Hydro trannies dont have any problems since they are built so much better.

 

well, i cant say for sure what exactly was happening, but the clutch cable was "unthreading", and thats why the engagment was all jacked up. I kept messing with it till it stayed, so that solves that problem.

About the linkage, i'm pretty sure it's not the HASport one. The guy i bought the car from was real good about telling me EVERYTHING (more than i wanted to know)about the car, so i would assume he would have mentioned it.

anyway, thanks for the help!

 

replace that clutch cable then, its like a $15 part. Adjust your engagement so you feel comfortable then work from there.

Those bseries cable trannies are notorious for grinding, you want to either buy a rebuild kit or another trans.

 

That kinda sounds like your clutch cable, I had something similar happen to me although mine broke. You might just need to adjust your clutch cable....

The top one is the new one, the bottom one is the broken one:


Close up of the broken clutch cable:


I got a new one for $38 from Honda, the one that broke was an aftermarket one and the piece that broke was made of plastic, as opposed to the Honda one that is made of metal....