OK, update 2. The car will shift fine when it is not on, but when it's on(running) it has a hard time. I've lost no fluid out of the clutch master resevoir, I know it still has a slow leak, but waht else would cause this? Throwout bearing? Shift linkage?

 

you could have air in the lines...i had the issue you described when i first realized my master/slave was going out. and if you add fluid make sure to use a new bottle everytime. dont use the same bottle once opened. but also, i am going to be getting my master/slave replaced as soon as mine come in the mail. my parts were ordered online for 156 or something. which was considerably less than the dealer. about 60 bucks.

 

Yeah. I thought about trying to bleed it to buy some time. where did you order your parts, if you don't mind me asking?

 

no problem.

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/j...PartsSearch.jsp
this was the site i was going to use, but i hated their customer service...for some reason, my order kept saying that it wouldnt process. i called all day, and was told to call back several times at certain times and when i did, the process repeated. so i went through this website, only about 4 bucks more expensive and it processed right away.
http://www.hondapartscheap.com/southbay/jsp/home.jsp

both sites are about 50 bucks or so less expensive than dealership pricing...the master from the dealership is roughly 113 and the slave is 79. the sites have them for much less.

 

also, if it is to the point where the shift gates feel solid and difficult to shift with force, it will be in need of a bleed soon....there is a great DIY on the site as well. my gf sat in the car while i just twisted the bleeder a few times and added fluid....its just that easy. but the DIY is great

 

Yeah, thats what it feels like. Thanks for all the info. I'm taking it in for a diagnosis on Saturday, I do have a warranty on the car, so hopefully that takes care of my costs, if not, I'll be doing it myself.

So it goes..

 

When I got to the point where it was hard to shift while the engine was on it only took about a day to get to the point where I couldn't shift at all while the car was running, but it sounds like my leak was more drastic than yours.

Worst case I guess you drive the car to the dealership in 2nd the whole way or something like that

I had a CPO warranty and Honda covered everything for the repair.

 

Well I have free 24 hour towing as well, so I'm not worried too much about it. I know the leak is very small.

 

although it is easy to see the leak as larger or smaller, but in truth, when air gets in the line it causes the same effect..the important thing is just checking the fluid and refilling with new DOT 3/4 each time. air bubbles or large air pockets in the line are horrible and seem just as described, not being able to shift unless the car is off..my car was like that randomly after no symptoms, the fluid was fine though...then i remembered doing donuts and it seemed logical that the less than full, but not low fluid got an air pocket/air bubble that cuased the same seized gear you described....its really almost like an all or nothing. there are degrees, but checking the fluid is key

 

Well thanks for the clarification, I thought i was losing my mind. I was like, why the **** is the car easy to shift unless its on? Made NO sense to me.

Thanks for all the info.