I was on the highway traveling at 60 MPH at around 4,000 RPM and downshifted...upshift back into 5th and it slightly grinded. Not so much that it sounded like a bad syncho, but more so that the clutch wasnt fully engaged.

Now, last week I adjusted the clutch adjustment point by moving the rod that goes into the slave cylinder. My clutch (only a few thousand miles on it) was adjusting way too high so I changed it. It engages great now and I can shift smoothly.

I hadnt needed to shift into 5th at higher RPMs since before the adjustment. Now, I understand that by adjusting the clutch rod too much might make the clutch stay slightly engaged at all times and slowly wearing it down...however, could it also not engage it enough?

Cars at the shop right now getting exhaust rebent, but I will re-adjust the clutch and see if it continues. Just wanted piece of mind for tonight since this damn trans only has a couple thousand on it.


Modified by . M i c h a e l at 11:30 PM 6/7/2006

 

if the clutch wasn't adjusted right, you'd be grinding other gears. 5th gear has the smallest synchro in the transmission, so technically, it can wear out the fastest. Honda designed it liek that beause 5th doesn't need much "synchronizer action" as 1-2-3-4 do.

do you think that the shift could be hitting the exhaust?

gears grinding mean one thing. That the synchro sleeve is spinning at a much different rate than the gear that it's trying to engage. Synchros are "brakes" that help match the speed.

 

pretty sure nothing is hitting the exhaust.

I'm going to adjust the clutch tomorrow and see what happens. It only grinds at higher RPM going into 5th (3,000+)

I double clutched on the highway and it was fine.

I might change the trans fluid although its a pain. Does fluid need to be changed at a specific interval on a brand new trans?

 

changing the fluid is easier than an oil change IMO.

You can cahnge the fluid after like 2500 if you want. the fact that you were double clutching means that the synchro/sleeve is worn. That's very odd though. when you say new, do you mean from the dealer or new to you?

 

not to me since the fill plug is sideways...

I double clutched because I didnt want to hear that grind.

The trans is brand new from an Acura dealership.

 

wow, that's VERY odd then. I forget how much you put in b-series. Start filling up through the vss, it's much easier.

try adding about 0.2 - 0.3 quarts extra through the vss.

 

Yeah, its pretty nuts. My reverse is also really weird. It doesnt cleanly go into gear, its so incredibly notchy that it sometimes takes three or four trys to get in completely. Where you can feel the forward gears gate...you cant in reverse. Also you have to push pretty hard to get it out of reverse.

Reverse lights also dont work due to something in the trans I believe.

I contacted a couple Acura dealerships and Acura of America today regarding the warranty. Its iffy since its an Acura part in a Honda car.

Oh yeah the VSS

 

the reverse gear is kind of weird, check out my transmission and you can see that one gear on it's own little shaft, it's straight cut (hence the whine) and you can see where they "mesh" togheter




perhaps it will get better after time. Unsure because I've never just had a BRAND new transmission.

Did you hook up the reverse light indicator?

 

2.5qt i believe.. or until it pours out the fill hole

 

Just got around to re-adjusting it. I dont think I adjusted it so much that it engages where it used to pre-adjustment...but now cruise control activates so I'm sure its enough.

If I'm in fourth gear and shift into 5th at anything over 3,500 it grinds. Very small, nothing crazy but it is there.

Luckily, I dont encounter that high of RPM around town, but on the highway I do...and I'm still double clutching.

I called Acura and i'm waiting to see if they'll honor the warranty. If not, I might just have to go the route of synchromesh.

I really dont get why it happened though.

 

me neither, that sucks.

You might have to go in there and complain.

if they say you messed it up, start talking very technical. to where they don't understand and feel stupid.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">me neither, that sucks.

You might have to go in there and complain.

if they say you messed it up, start talking very technical. to where they don't understand and feel stupid. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I called my nearest Acura dealership and they said they have no idea what to do so they told me to call Acura of America. I knew before calling they wouldnt honor it.

Called...yep, its a "modified vehicle." Not for any reason other than its an Acura transmission on a Honda car. "Doesnt matter that Honda and Acura are sister companies" said the girl.

So, I called the dealership where the transmission was purchased from...I talked to one guy last week and he said it shouldnt be a problem and he'll have someone call me back. This was Wednesday or Thursday of last week. I called yesterday to check up on it to see if they looked into it...I spoke to the service manager I believe (could've been parts manager, idk) and he said he'll speak to someone about it and call me back. He doesnt know what they'll be able to do since the VIN is that of a honda car...and they need to submit an Acura VIN since its an ITR trans.

What I'm getting at is, I wouldnt know where to go into and who to yell at.

I think I'll pick up Penzoil Synchromesh tomorrow and possibly put it in as well. I've got a nice long drive ahead of me on sunday so it'll give it a couple hundred miles to start working. It SHOULD work as its fixed huge grinds on peoples cars before and this is just a minor 5th gear grind.

Reverse is fucked, too...and the gears feel notchy. IDK, maybe I got scammed by a friend and this doesnt really have 3,000 miles on it. Maybe its a B16 trans with an aftermarket LSD, maybe I just got a friday made trans. I dont know, but i'm upset.

 

I have bought a couple brand new ITR trannies last year around summer time. Both had issues with the shifting from 4-5th gear. I had installed a LS 5th gear and the quaife. I sold the ITR diff and that was a big factor in me not being able to swap it out. I know a couple people that may be able to get you a replacement / warrantied part. I will see what I can do to help out.

Jason

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blown90hatcH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I have bought a couple brand new ITR trannies last year around summer time. Both had issues with the shifting from 4-5th gear.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you have any issues with reverse at all? Namely not going in smoothly, or engaging at all sometimes and needing to take it in and out 2-3 times?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blown90hatcH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I had installed a LS 5th gear and the quaife. I sold the ITR diff and that was a big factor in me not being able to swap it out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Its crossed my mind to put in an LS 5th eventually since traveling at 80 is so near vtec engagement, that going up a hill will put you into it.

Are you saying that by installing a LS 5th and Quaife LSD you decided against swapping/selling it?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blown90hatcH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I know a couple people that may be able to get you a replacement / warrantied part. I will see what I can do to help out.

Jason</TD></TR></TABLE>

Any help is extremely appreciated. Just putting forth the effort is enough to make me happy. Thanks

 

I experienced slight grind going into 5th. The reverse also felt chunky. Brand new tranny, still felt this. Swaped in LS and still same thing.

 

I dont know where you got it, but someone around here bought an ITR tranny from curry acura, beat the snot out of it for 6 months, started grinding, and they shipped him a brand new one in the black plastic housing upon the receival of his old one. I wouldnt have even told them you had it in a honda, did they install it? The damn transmission is brand new and it has problems with reverse/5th? theyre on the same sleeveset so that may be the issue.

I had a GSR transmission that would grind 5th up top around 6k I took it apart and it was missing the metal ring on the 5th gear syncro- I got one from a junk tranny and it never did that again.

If they are in no way shape or form going to help you out, id take off the case and check out 5/reverse sleeve set, you wont need any bearing splitters/pullers as its right up top and the top bearing usually comes off easily.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Danny_EJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dont know where you got it, but someone around here bought an ITR tranny from curry acura, beat the snot out of it for 6 months, started grinding, and they shipped him a brand new one in the black plastic housing upon the receival of his old one. I wouldnt have even told them you had it in a honda, did they install it? The damn transmission is brand new and it has problems with reverse/5th? theyre on the same sleeveset so that may be the issue. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It was purchased from Curry Acura. I told them its in a Honda because its the truth. He asked for the VIN and I said the trans is actually in a civic.

I also told the guy it was installed by myself and a friend.

Maybe I'll just call back and say its in my ITR ::

 

do that. don't take no for an answer. if they say no, talk to someone above them.

if they still complain. say "look dumbasses, it makes no difference to you what car it's in. All that matters is that a transmission that I spent good money on from you guys is not working as it should. I want it fixed like it's supposed to."

Call every single day until they do. If they treat you rude, go to their supervisors. Go there in person, etc.

Don't take no for an answer.

Call them again with your friends integra vin number, who knows. Just don't take no for an answer

 

I also installed a new ITR tranny in my GSR. Reverse is difficult to get in, in the old GSR tranny I just put into 1st then it slides into reverse. The ITR tranny I need to fiddle around with... 1st then reverse doesn't always work. I have found this is the best technique, 1st then neutral, release clutch then press clutch again, select reverse.

No gear grinds anywhere... using Honda MTF. Adjust your clutch with the correct amount of freeplay at the top of the stoke to ensure you get complete clutch engagement.

With regards to warranty, I think Honda would give me problems too because I didn't use a OEM clutch and my car is a GSR, not the original part. I wouldn't accept it and direct them to the SEMA warranty: http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50096

Tranny being in a GSR didn't cause it to fail.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bense &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do that. don't take no for an answer. if they say no, talk to someone above them.

if they still complain. say "look dumbasses, it makes no difference to you what car it's in. All that matters is that a transmission that I spent good money on from you guys is not working as it should. I want it fixed like it's supposed to."

Call every single day until they do. If they treat you rude, go to their supervisors. Go there in person, etc.

Don't take no for an answer.

Call them again with your friends integra vin number, who knows. Just don't take no for an answer </TD></TR></TABLE>

Question...I bought this car from a friend of mine (96ls on here) his dad works at a honda dealership and is the one who "purchased" it, by using his discount.

They are aware of this, anyone think that'll be a problem?

If they dont call tomorrow, I'll call on Friday. I dont really know how to go about it, I have no problem being stern against a company...but I just dont want to say something that will automatically void anything.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stumpyf4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I also installed a new ITR tranny in my GSR. Reverse is difficult to get in, in the old GSR tranny I just put into 1st then it slides into reverse. The ITR tranny I need to fiddle around with... 1st then reverse doesn't always work. I have found this is the best technique, 1st then neutral, release clutch then press clutch again, select reverse.

No gear grinds anywhere... using Honda MTF. Adjust your clutch with the correct amount of freeplay at the top of the stoke to ensure you get complete clutch engagement.

With regards to warranty, I think Honda would give me problems too because I didn't use a OEM clutch and my car is a GSR, not the original part. I wouldn't accept it and direct them to the SEMA warranty: http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?ID=50096

Tranny being in a GSR didn't cause it to fail.</TD></TR></TABLE>

On any car I drive, whether it be hondas with Cable trans...hondas, hell my friends 04 WRX...I always put it into a forward gear before reverse...usually third. I do that to get into reverse on my car, sometimes it takes two or three trys though. Getting it out of reverse is another story, too. Its extremely difficult and I have to push VERY hard to get it out.

I'm pretty sure the clutch is adjusted good now. I dont know if there are exact measurements though.

Are you saying that you did the same thing and honda denied you; in which you referred them to that SEMA website? I know typically a dealership has to prove that a modification you did was a direct cause of part failure. There should be nothing to prove. Its a b series trans on a b series engine.

I'm upset.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by . M i c h a e l &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

He doesnt know what they'll be able to do since the VIN is that of a honda car...and they need to submit an Acura VIN since its an ITR trans.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

michael,

The reason a VIN# must match to the Acura parts catalog to obtain a warranty claim through Honda.

However, there are ways he can go about this!

U can bring your invoice back to the dealership (must be done), the service/parts director will write a warranty cliam under a ACURA INTEGRA TYPE-R VIN #. (which u may have to obtain), he will contact his Acura parts district/regional manager. The process wouldn't take that long and a new tranny should be issue to u within a week (unless u need it in a hurry, U pay the overnite fee, its not the dealership fault if a tranny is defect nor Acura since it did came out of a ACURA INEGRA TYPE-R ) Honda is very strict on that.

I've done this maybe 2 times when i work for Acura. Time consuming yes, but it is do-able. I even seen new ITR block that were not assembly correctly? yes, Honda warranty it (not the labor since it was not install by a Honda/Acura dealership, thats ur cost)

HOWEVER, if already took the tranny apart or modify it with some aftermarket differential, say like a Quaife, DONT BOTHER

why?

u already took it apart and Honda warranty will not honor it! especially nowadays, there are already outside sources for OEM tranny parts, which u don't know if its OEM or el-cheapo

my suggestion to you if you get blow off by the dealership is to contact the parts rep for that district, tell them what happen and if see what he can do for you.

please don't be rude, or tend to "know it all" since u will get blow off!

~Bert

 

Yeah, I figured as much...gotta be the books, and I understand.

Do I have to personally go to the dealership and bring it to them? I have a friend with a 97 ITR, whom I can ask if I can do a claim under his car. I dont need it in a hurry at all, hell they can take months if they care to do so (of course, i'd rather not) so long as I get either a new trans, or they fix this one.

No, its not the dealerships fault at all, its whoever put that specific trans together and thats fine. I dont get what you mean by saying it did come out of an ITR and that Honda is strict.

The trans wasnt installed by a dealership, it was installed by a friend. Would this pose any kind of problem?

This trans was installed, with an OEM style ITR clutch, Honda Transmission fluid and thats all. Never opened, stock LSD, just installed as-is.

Should I attempt this after all else fails? As in, should I do this after trying to give them a different VIN#, etc.

I never am, I dont ever give people crap. I know they have a job to do and I dont expect them to break or bend rules for me. I've never once gotten loud, or had an attitude with anyone...even the mean representative from Acura of America and she was a bitch.


Now, a few questions I've got:

If they go ahead and warranty it, just what would I have to pay for?

Would I have to take the trans out myself and bring it to them?

The trans was purchased by the father of the friend I bought the car off of, would there be any kind of problem with ME trying to get the warranty and not him? He's a Honda employee and utilized his discount.

Its now friday at 4:30 on the dot and they havent contacted me back. I guess I'll call on Monday, however I'm not sure exactly what to say. Do I pretend like i'm a new person calling about an ITR trans problem? Do I say its me and that the trans is now in an ITR, I'm not too sure about how to go about lying. What do I say.

Thanks a ton.

 

why not have the original purchaser claim the part defective, especially since he will be doing so with his co-workers and they shouldnt give him a hard time..... just a thought.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Danny_EJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why not have the original purchaser claim the part defective, especially since he will be doing so with his co-workers and they shouldnt give him a hard time..... just a thought.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I've asked my friend to call for me and he hasnt been doing a good job of it. He hasnt spoken to me since he sold me the car, really. Which is kind of shady, but what can you do.

 

i've been getting nothing but the same runaround that you have gotten. every time that i call, they say someone will contact me in a day or two. and to no avail...i hear nothing.

and mike, i'm sorry for not keeping in touch. i've have been extremely busy with work, and my old lady. which has left me little time to do much intraweb chatting. and my aim has been screwy for the past 3 weeks.