I searched and read a bunch of threads, but didn't see anything like this, so here goes.

So I was coming up to a sharp right turn the other night. Got down to maybe 5-10 mph and downshifted to 2nd nice and slow. Nothing hurried about it. I had the stereo on, so I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I heard/felt something when I let up on the clutch, and when I tried to accelerate, the car barely moved but the RPMs shot up. I didn't think I missed the gear, but tried anyways and found I was definitely in gear. So I tried 3rd and then 4th with the same results. Finally in 5th it caught on. I was not far from home, so got it there and it seemed ok the rest of the way. When I got out at home, I could smell the clutch had been burning. Now when I drove it the next morning to work, it is chattering/vibrating each time I am engaging a new gear, but then is fine once fully engaged and accelerating. So it was basically hung up and only partially engaging for a brief time and now it is all out of whack.

Any thoughts? I am dropping it off at the dealer sunday night, but curiosity kills me, and I want to be prepared. The car just crossed 20k miles. I know alot about engines, but I've never worked on trannies, and don't know enough about the inner workings of the 6mt to start guessing at this.

Hmmm... guess I've stumped everyone.

Dealer called and said they couldn't duplicate. Of course! Why should I have expected a different answer. I told them to try again. This is not subtle and it is not intermittent. I really hate to waste my time going there and taking someone out for a drive to prove it, but it seems like that is what may have to happen.

On a sidenote, I notice this "we can't replicate" excuse is only ever used when a car is under warranty. When it is no longer under warranty, it becomes "oh yeah! you got a problem! and here is 12 other things we noted that you should get fixed!"

I haven't even complained about the lumbar support that won't stay where I set it because I know what the answer will be.

You should go on a drive with someone at the dealer.... that's the best way to handle things you hear/feel since they drive so many cars it's hard to notice some changes.

The '03 had a lumbar issue. It MAY be what's happening to yours....:dunno:


I have been there many times when an owner's car has a problem that won't do it for the tech! My car (not this one) has done that lots!! Honda only gives them a few minutes to find a warranty problem & they usually don't get paid unless they find AND fix it. So contrary to popular belief, they don't say "we can't duplicate" just because they feel like it! When they say that, you just got the tech's peek for free. When some pays for diagnostic time, then they can take more time to find it.

I don't know your dealer & there are some really awful ones out there, but not all. Try another one.

Maybe it's a faulty clutch delay valve :dunno: I haven't heard of any problems with these, and usually they're only supposed to operate under high RPM conditions, but you never know. I assume you already checked to make sure the fluid is all there.

thanks for the lumbar pdf, princess. Mine does work, it just doesn't stay in place, though, so I don't know if that is the same issue. And it isn't immediate. I set the lumbar in the full on position. In about a week's time, it will work its way back to half on. And it will eventually work its wall to full off. I mean, its not a big deal. I just live with it and readjust often.

So I got a 2nd call. I was told a 2nd tech drove it and couldn't feel it either. I am rather shocked and dismayed. I mean, this is not subtle, by any means. On my way to drop off the car, as a test, I even let the clutch out in 3rd rather fast. The car rumbled to such an extent that I could hear the tire jack equipment rattle in the trunk! That's pretty extreme, IMHO. Something that I should not need to point out to someone. But, that is what they want me to do. Schedule a time to come in and drive it with someone. I don't think I will. I figure I'll either take it to another dealer or drive it till it breaks completely and let them deal with it then.

Im willing to bet the reason the dealer cannot replicate is that they are slipping it more when going into gear since they aren't used to the clutch, give it a try I bet it doesn't vibrate as much if you slip it.

If its vibrating while your letting the clutch out, I would maybe guess the flywheel warped or a spring came loose on the pressure plate. Warping could happen if it was overheated badly I suppose so its possible you have a combination. I had a bad clutch job done once on a corolla where the flywheel warped after the job and it vibrated like you describe.

One thing you might be able to try is have someone listen while you slowly let the clutch out, see if you hear any rattling or scraping.

Im nearing 40k and haven't had any issues, but I drive a lot on the highway. Crossing my fingers it lasts. My volvo made it 187 before the rear main seal died, at which point I put a clutch in too (crazy not to).

ops mean to edit not create a reply

edit - one more thought. Not sure what hondas take on resurfacing the flywheel but volvo was very clear that it should not be done, as it decreases the amount of metal on the flywheel and thus reduces the clamping pressure, and increases the likelihood it will warp. Not sure what hondas take would be, but make sure the dealer calls honda of america. The conventional wisdom is resurface, and the volvo techs were dumbfounded that volvo said not to (stick volvo 850s are about as rare if not more rare than our 6mt).

I hope you find out what BOTH issues are!

The lumbar could still be the same issue as the '03, just slipping down instead of not working at all.....:dunno:

Mine didn't have the issus. I hadn't moved in the first year, but then my back started having issues... now I change to fit my mood & comfort. Not that ANYTHING really helps if my back is having a bad day. I'm too short & no matter where it's set, it doesn't really fit me.

I'll ask about the clutch thing & see if I can find an answer for you.

I asked & he hasn't seen what you describe. He did say it does sound like the clutch area more than the tranny...so that's good news. Now to find it.........:dunno:

Ok. Well, good and bad news.

First, to answer your question, princess, I could avoid the vibration if I slipped it ... but it was pretty extreme slipping. Something that would wear the clutch prematurely.

Ok... so I picked up my car last night and ... yup, the vibration was gone. SO, I think this brings me back to my original theory. I thought possibly (again, noting I'm not very familiar with the inner workings of a manual trans) something either broke loose and got in between the plates or a foreign object got in there. During that initial encounter where the plates wouldn't engage and it was slipping horribly, it scored the plates before I was able to work it out of there by clutching in and out. That scoring, of course, was causing vibration when engaging the clutch from that point forward. The scoring has now worn away.

It probably would have taken a long time for it to wear away with my driving habits (I am quite gentle with a clutch because I want it to last). I thought about trying to beat on it and wear it down, but I didn't want to get stuck somewhere in case it was more serious. I believe the techs burned the clutch much more than I would and it wore away the rough part of the scoring. So... what do you think, Princess? Sound plausible?

Now, the question is, however, how will this affect the long-term reliability? I guess that is an unknown, and only supports my decision to turn it in at lease end rather than purchase. I just hope it doesn't pose a problem in the next 20k miles. If something like a spring or bolt did break off, I would think it is only a matter of time.

I've fought dealerships with this car since the day I got it. I'm feeling more and more compelled to take on Crosbie's attitude about the J-series + MTX -- It aint all its cracked up to be. Mine loves to grind gears. Naturally, techs never find problems. Given this "motivation to find a problem" since they aren't paid unless they do, it seems only logical a tech would be inclined to take your word for it rather than just drive it 'round the block and shrug his shoulders for free.

After months of driving mine and eating the transmission, I found by observation what was causing my issues:
O2 sensor cable was wrapped around the clutch slave cylinder.

Now, my super notchy busted up transmission drives like shit from the gear damage -- yet i still get the same tech responses -- what problem? Hell, one even had the ignorance to write "SHIFTS TO HONDA SPEC" on the form.

Honda Spec? PLEASE, I would love to receive a formal writeup on what "Shifting to Honda Spec" even means, nevertheless how you prove such a bogus claim.

When my car isn't humiliating me at traffic lights or impossible to get out of the driveway, I absolutely love it. But for nearly 30,000 sticker price, its really not a love/hate relationship any more.

I have nothing but an excellent experience with mine. 3rd gear stick once every blue moon but I know how to deal with it. Clutch has no squeaks and each gear 99.9 of the time smoothly goes into each gear. Plus mine doesnt rattle.