Hey S2k family -

I've spent a good amount of time searching the forums and I've not really found anything that matches up with my symptoms.

Last week I did a normal easy shift into third and something changed. After that point each up/down shift was very difficult. Down shifts (i.e. heel toe) are impossible to do without grinding gears. Up shifts are extremely tight and difficult to get into gear. It feels as though there is a gate in front of the gear and if I gently put the right pressure it will finally drop into gear, sometimes still grinding. Often I'll have to let the transmission speed drop (clutch in for some seconds) before I can get it into a gear.

I don't have difficulty getting into reverse. If it doesn't go straight in, i can go to 4th and then into reverse without issue.

At a stop, I can easily move through the gears with no problem. Its a bit tighter than I'd like but no real issues going through the gears at a stop with the clutch pedal pressed in.

I checked the clutch master cylinder and it was leaking a bit so I replaced with a new OEM unit and bled properly twice. Despite the new unit, it had no impact on my situation.

The slave cylinder shows no signs of a blown seal. No sign at all of fluid weeping out. Trans fluid is less than 2,000 miles old and its honda MTF. I change it every 6k miles.

The 1>2 shift is the easiest to get however the rest all grind, especially 3th 5th and 6th.

When coming to a stop at times (clutch in) I hear a thunk/clang sounds and feel a vibration in the drive line as though the clutch was dragging a little.

There is also a bit of a 'thunk' or 'clunk' at times when I'm at a stop and place the car in 1st or 2nd prior to pulling out. This only happens after I've had my foot off the clutch waiting for the light to change (i.e. the trans is spinning at engine speed and when i press the clutch to put it in gear the slop in the drive line is taken up - before letting out the clutch - I feel this clunk or thunk in the back - diff/prop shaft area.

So what gives?

I really hope its not something inside the transmission, but if it was, what would cause it to be so hard to shift in all gears but only while moving? If it was a synchro I'd think it would still be hard at a stop.

What do you guys think? Throw out bearing? but I don't hear any noise other than the very faint sound of the transmission rolling around at idle with the clutch out. When I press the clutch in you can hear/ feel the trans speed fall off. If it was the TOB then I'd think I'd hear it grinding or making some other noise when the clutch was pressed in.

If it was a bad clutch disk or pressure plate, I'd think the clutch would slip. I cant get it to slip (although it has before in the past backing up very steep hills).

What else could it be?!

Thanks!
2000 w/ 61,000 miles. Completely stock.

Rick

 

Sounds like your clutch disk is coming apart. I had the same exact symptoms and was also worried that my transmission was fawked. I also replaced the CMC and slave, first, with little to no improvement. Then replaced the flywheel, disk, pressure plate and bearings. Now it shifts perfectly again. Feel free to PM me with any questions, I just went down this road and have a few tips for you.

 

sweet thanks 21337R

My question though is why isnt it slipping then? I did a couple 5-6k clutch drops (standing start) the other night and no slippage.

 

Its not a clutch engagement problem, or a worn disc problem, but a clutch DISengagement problem.

 

so throw out bearing or 'arm' (that the slave cylinder pushes against)?

How about this? Can the slave cylinder be bad even though it shows no sings of weeping/leaking any fluid? The slave cylinder is bone dry so thats why I don't think its the slave.

 

^^ Listen to this guy, he is exactly right.

Your clutch is not fully letting go of the flywheel when you push in the pedal. That is why it is so hard to shift. You need to rev match perfectly in order to switch gears without grinding the shit out of them. In my case, a few pieces of the clutch disk were broken off, preventing it from fully disengaging.

The friction plate is not the problem and therefore your clutch is not slipping.

 

thanks guys -

so I have a brand new, bled clutch master cylinder in there. the slave cylinder is showing no signs of being faulty (no leaks or moisture from the slave cylinder - its bone dry).

what else is there in the clutch release process? the clutch release fork/arm?

 

any other thoughts dudes?

 

I have the same exact problem, except I have 3rd, 5th, and 6th. It happened to me at a track day in the heat. Bled the system twice, didn't change anything. Let me know if you figure it out.

 

I'm going to have a look at the slave cylinder and see if its not getting full travel. Like I mentioned, I've bled the system multiple times but I'm still not sure that I'm getting full travel out of the slave cylinder. I'm skeptical as I have no signs of fluid leaking out of the slave but maybe its gummed up or something and not fully extending when I push in the clutch.

I'll investigate that, likely replace the slave cylinder just because and then see where I'm at.

Might be a bit as I'm just starting a new job and don't have a ton of time to devote to this :/