I thought I share my findings with the rest of you, since those of us that drive our highly modified cars hard, might deal with this sooner or later.
I initially thought my problem was a bad syncro or a bad gear or both and was very happy upon opening the trans case, to see it was only a bad bearing.

Vehicle: 1999 Honda Civic DX w/ GReedy Turbo.

Problem : Trans pop's out of 2nd gear on deceleration and grinds on 1st to 2nd over 3000rpm's and from 3rd to 2nd under load.

After removing and opening the trans we found the mainshaft bearing to be in pieces.

We replaced the mainshaft bearing and the mainshaft bearing oil seal and everything runs perfect now.

Cost : Mainshaft bearing $17.00
Mainshaft bearing seal $3.70
Liquid gasket (for resealing trans) $2.97
Machine shop for removing the old and installing new bearing & seal $50.00
Release Bearing $32.00 (was not needed but I thought was a good idea)
Engine rear oil seal $13.00 (was not needed but I thought was a good idea)

Overall difficulty of the project: Not at all difficult but don't do it without the Helms manual.

For pictures follow the link below.

SPECIAL THANKS, to Blown90hatch that was correct about the bearing.

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS! To 93LSivic for his BAD LANGUAGE & ATTITUDE and his wrong info provided 12-14-01 on the same subject, since he stated in a very bad laguage what he thought the oil level was the problem (but we all knew he was wrong since our problem was only with the 2nd gear, and not on all gears).

What can we learn from this?
1. Not all trans problems are expensive to repair.
2. Not everybody offering advice in this forum knows anything about what they are talking about.

So, BE CAREFULL OUT THERE AND FOR THOSE THAT KNOW NOTHING, READ MORE AND TALK LESS.

NOTES: Some trans shops wanted $900 to $1100 TO REBUILD THIS ONE. This other shop wanted $375.00 just for labor once we take the trans to them, for their labor to take it appart and fix it (and we pay for the parts).
We also found used trans for $550.00 (not bad, if you have a lot of internal parts go bad).

For pictures click the following link.

http://geocities.com/hondatechus/Transpics







[Modified by civicturbo, 1:35 PM 12/25/2001]

 

Again props to you for doing it yourself. Too many people post that have actually never even attempted things on there own.

 

Cool! I need to do that! I just swaped in a newer tranny..
But I'd love to rebuild my older tranny to have a spare.

You make it sound pretty simple.
Maybe that will be my next project
I just rebuilt my motor



[Modified by Crazydave, 6:07 PM 12/20/2001]

 

Ok, im gonna state this again. I never said it was the oil level. I simply said that you should CHECK the oil level and you perceived it as me coming off as a smart *** by saying "go check the oil level, and then get back to us so we can diagnose your problem for you". Again, on your previous post, you never told us what you did to check the problem. Again, its helps to tell all of us what steps have been taken prior to posting you help needed question. As for help, I would never try to give you any help, and for the most part you come off cocky acting that you know all--so inturn you dont deserve help being like that.
I am glad that you found your problem regardless, this is maybe one thing that you may have learned and prolly the only piece of advice that you may give someone in the future.
Oh yeah, if you have low oil, you can pop out of certain gears. Not necessarily would it pop out of all. Depending on the lubricating design of the transmission, or the condition of the syncronizer assemblies and brass rings for any of the gears. Like I said before, I know quite a good bit on transmissions--but for now only the rear drive. BUT both front and rear have the same basic technologies.......

 

UR Skrewed...get synchros

 

Ever seen a bad synchro in a D series tranny????

I've sold more D synchros than any of the salesman from company I was buying them from in 2000. I wiped out a warehouse in PA, huge dent in the AZ warehouse, and another in WA.

 

"We sell a lot of synchros"

Have you ever heard of mechanics installing parts that you don't need?
Oh, yes!

A lot of times mechanics install parts that you don't need because they are not sure exactly what caused the problem and they also don't want to go back in the trans or engine and open it up again.

In our case everything looked ok, so we replaced the bearing and put it back on. Now, we also worried a little about the sychros but we put it back on and wanted to try without replacing them. It was the right move.

A mechanic would have said to a customer " Well the bearing was bad, but we strongly recommend replacing the synhros too because they don't look that good or they might have been damaged too" That's just BS from the mechanic. Another way to cover them selfs "insurance" for their ignorance, uncertainty, lack of knowledge and in the process make more money, and money is the reason they work on cars. The more repairs they do for you, the more money they make! And in a case like this, ignorance and lack of knowledge = more money.

Just be carefull. Some mechanics are really BAD! That doesn't mean that there are no honest mechanics out there. Yes, a few! And when you are lucky to find a good one they are really good! But ignorance, inexperience and dishonesty are also found in abundance. After all, who ended up becoming a mechanic. If we just go back a little, in my high school the best students became doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers etc. not mechanics. Therefore, you are also dealing with a person that is already ranking lower than most in academics. And for todays cars you need someone that can keep up with technology, not rank last because the don't care to read the repair manual, because they think they know it all, or they are really unable to process and understand the information provided!

Of course these are just my thoughts and I'm sure a lot of mechanics will not agree with me, but it sure does make a lot of sense to me.

Botom line, be carefull!







[Modified by civicturbo, 3:16 AM 12/23/2001]

 

As far as what a "rebuild" really is:

Replacing any part that is out of specification. There are many definitions that people use when they say they rebuilt a tranny or motor. Putting a bearing and a seal is NOT a rebuild. Yes, there are many mechanics out there that have no clue as to what they are talking about- I call them parts hangers. I recently rebuilt a 91 Si transmission for my own car. I bought it online from somebody. I took it apart- I am sure it would have shifted fine. But I decided to rebuild it. This "fine working" transmission needed differential side and spider gears, spider gear shaft, carrier bearings, 2nd gear w/ synchro set, 1st-2nd shifter fork, 3-4th gear synchros, main and countershaft bearings, input shaft seal, axle seals. I went ahead and replaced 3rd gear and 4th with a different ratio. 5th gear was fine. All in all- I spent over $1000 (dealer cost + 10%) in parts alone. Now I have essentially a perfectly new transmission.
One thing you learn to do when you are a mechanic is cover your ***- some customers are ******** and have no clue as to what they need for proper repair. Any mechanic that says all you need is A bearing with no hint of other possible problems within a transmission is an inexperienced dumbass. Not to say that he might not be right- but to mislead a customer that the cost of repair will be no higher than the single bearing replacement is wrong. And by the way- the labor for replacing 1 bearing or all of them with synchros is the same. Congratulations on your successful repair- but don't talk smack about mechanics- especially when you have NO IDEA about what it takes to be one. I do not work on cars solely for the money- but for the satisfaction of doing it right and fixing other dumbasses' mistakes and poor workmanship.

I also quote:

"If we just go back a little, in my high school the best students became doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers etc. not mechanics. Therefore, you are also dealing with a person that is already ranking lower than most in academics. And for todays cars you need someone that can keep up with technology, not rank last because the don't care to read the repair manual, because they think they know it all, or they are really unable to process and understand the information provided!"

So since I am a mechanic- does that mean I am a dumbass? Nothing like insulting the people YOU turn to for help. I went to college- there is MUCH more to being a mechanic than nuts and bolts PAL. Maybe you are too stupid to go to another mechanic- instead you judge mechanics as a whole and say they are stupid because they are not wearing suits or don't have a wall full of bullshit papers in frames. What do you do for a living? I am very interested to find out. I hope it has nothing to do with people or fixing cars or SPELLING. What a DICK- does that make "sence" to you.

 

TO: fixhondas

You are obviously unhappy what what I wrote. That's OK with most of us here! I think it's because you know what I wrote is true! That's why you are steaming!

You are probably one of them and you now feel exposed. That's fine!
I didn't write this for expert mechanics like your self. I wrote this for the majority of the people in this forum that get screwed by mechanics like you wanting to "rebuild" something that DOESN'T NEED IT! Or replacing something that is not broken.

By the way, I don't remember stating that we did rebuild the trans (please read more carefully). We just repaired it! WE FIXED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT! CAN MECHANICS LIKE YOU JUST DO THAT?
NO!
You would probably want to "rebuild it" because you "take pride in what you do!"
BS!
Is that a different way of saying "I want to rebuild it because I don't have a clue what's wrong with it and by replacing everything I'll get it right the first time."
or maybe
"I recommend rebuilding it because that's how I'm taking all your money for nothing."
OR EVEN WORSE,
charge me for rebuilding it ($1200.00 or so) when you only replaced the $17.00 bearing!$$$$$$$$

I wonder what would you have done, PAL?
I think all of us know. $$$$$$$$$

Spare me the "I went to college" BS!
Going doesn't mean graduating.

And by the way I'm an accountant!

My appologies for the spelling errors. English is my 4th language!

By the way, what's with the "M" arch. Grow-up! Didn't you hear it kills your brain cells, of course if you have any left!






[Modified by civicturbo, 4:45 AM 12/23/2001]

 

For everyone that thinks civicturbo is a jackass, or if you agree what he says, do this. This is what I decided to do to find more out about this ahole. JUst do a simple search on what threads he has recently joined in on.
The Sad-sad, saddest part of this--I came to find that he mostly posts in the tech Tech Forum. I dont have time to quote what this jackass has to say. But the funniest I remember was his answer to this persons problem
XhondatechmemberX: Question- My car is having a problem overheating, any help please.
civicturbo: Answer- Maybe your radiator is clogged.

Yeah thats his answer. I feel bad for the people who listen to anybody when it comes down to repairing their own vehicle, that is if they dont get more opinionated responses.
This guy is just a Hack, if I was a moderator his *** would have been banned long ago. Also up above he isnt taking into account what mistabone has to say. For anyone who doesnt know, mistabone is the man the ask about sohc manual transmissions. Just look at his page, this guy knows a great amount on what it takes to make those trannies tick.

F this guy, ban his *** for good. One, for misinformation. Two, for not trying to cope with peoples replies for the lame *** **** he gets himself into.

 

You were given a worst case scenario price, most tranny shops do that.
If you ask "What will it cost to rebuild my tranny" they expect you want all serviceable parts replaced.


"And by the way I'm an accountant!"

Does this mean you can count change back at Wendys or you know how to hide all the money your ripping off your people?????

 

TO: 93LSivic

I'm glad you tried to find-out who I'm. That means I got your attention!

And MistaBone might be selling a lot of synchros and he probablly does know a lot but a synchro was obviously not our problem here was it?
I also thought it was a synchro before opening it up that's why I wanted everybody to benefit from my experience and I provided the info.

Not all trans problems can be expensive to repair!

I hope you got it now!
By the way clean-up that mouth or don't talk!

 

I agree with your worst case scenario. I thought the same until we opened the trans case.
And to tell you the truth we did worry a little when we were putting it back on. That's why I posted this, so people that have the same problem can probably get away with just fixing the bearing.

Saving money by fixing only what's broken!

It worked for me and I want everybody to know!

Isn't this the purpose of forums like this? Share information and experience thru communication for the purpose of enhancing your knowledge and ability to resolve problems in the most efficient manner.







[Modified by civicturbo, 5:59 AM 12/23/2001]

 

Wahoo.....You said Engineer and best students....HaHa...the first one I am, the second one....well lets just say I spent too many hours working on cars and not enough time studying. 3.2 gpa...not too bad...but definately not the best.

 

Thanks for reinforcing my argument.

 

I know that this may be old but it beats reposts.

I know that I have bad bearings, the car has also just started to pop out of 2nd gear. I hope that this will fix my problem.

I am also using GM syncromesh (the expensive version). **** internet bandwagons.

 

I had a similar problem with a 93 gs-r trans I bought, but the repairs are a bit more expensive as the front mainshaft bearing cage ate up the differential and scattered junk all through the trans. If I can ever get the pictures from my bosses digital camera, I'll post my damage.

 

I feel a lot of love in this room. This civic turbo guy is a dult for one. I don't know anyone would get thier panties in a bunch over someone like him. He perfers halfassing **** and calling other people with other professions stupid, uneducated, blah blah blah. Thats fine. My preference is if you are ripping a tranny apart why replace a peezy *** bearing. I would replace much more than that myself. I guess that makes me stupid as well. If this dude is an accountant as he so claims to be he could have just bought himself a new tranny. Not tried to save a buck. Any friends of mine that are accountants make enough money that they don't have to waste thier time(because for one they are busy working) working on thier civic DX. As matter of fact the couple accountants I know don't drive civic DXs, they drive vettes and lexus'. But to each his own. No one gives a rats *** if you rip off old people with entirely too much money for a living. I'm glad you can tell me that 2+2=3 after taxes. You really should be thankful that someone would go out of thier way to give his opinion on possible problems even if that wasn't the problem. Not talk ****.
I won't BS here I sell car parts for a living and work on cars in my spare hours. I love my job. Not many people can say that honestly. I could BS anyone here about my FAST *** internet car and awesome internet house, kids and wife. My car isn't fast enough. My house is small, I'm not married, I have no children. My sister keeps on trying to invite me and my dad to her gay pride rallys like we give a rats *** about her alternative lifestyle. I don't have an engineering degree. But I'm satisfied with my life. And if you aren't then go take a flying ****.
You kind of struck a nerve there buckaroo. Don't go off calling someone stupid becuase of thier choices. Some of the smartest people I know are highschool dropouts. They may not have made the best choices or they ahve a big problem with how the system works. That doesn't make them stupid. Go back to your hole where you came from and find some other hobby. IMO you are the only stupid one who has posted here.

 

very nice i have had this problem for quite some time