having problems shifting

laurieaw · #1 08-28-2008, 02:45 PM

ok, what have i not done that's causing my shifter to feel very stiff, almost like it's going to be stuck in gear. i suppose i didn't do some service....

80,000 miles, 5 speed. it acts like it does when it's cold.........

phoebeisis · #2 08-28-2008, 03:02 PM

Laurie,
Over time the clutch cylinder and the clutch slave cylinder fail.These are the hydraulic gadgets that actually move when your foot pushes down on the clutch pedal.The seal starts to fail,and it becomes hard to shift.They don't move the clutch-disengage it- as they should. One or the other gives out about -100,000 city miles usually.It isn't a lack of maintenance, it is just wear.

They-are filled with brake fluid usually(maybe Honda uses something else).The reservoir is under the hood, usually toward the back firewall.There is a tiny chance that one is leaking,and adding fluid would help for a while. It looks a lot like a brake fluid reservoir.

On Toyota trucks they were easy to replace,and the parts were about $100 Toyota rebuilt, or $45 Autozone crummy lifetime warranty part. It can be a DIY type job.

Fair chance I'm wrong about this, so listen to other posters.
Luck,
Charlie
80,000 miles is about right- a clutch can go out about then also. I suppose it could be a shift linkage, or maybe you can adjust the clutch pedal to get some more travel- might help for a while.
PPS I've had better luck on Autozone rebuilt parts lately-and they are worlds cheaper than Honda/Toyota-

PaleMelanesian · #3 08-28-2008, 03:20 PM

Can you tell if the clutch engagement point is lower than it used to be? That's a sure sign that it's the clutch hydraulic system. Get it fixed before the disengagement point moves below the floor - you're always in gear then!

I've had to replace the hydraulic cylinders in my Civic. I think it was sometime around 120,000. Just last month I did the same on the 1987 Mazda truck, at 150,000.

laurieaw · #4 08-28-2008, 03:59 PM

i'm sorry, i guess i didn't explain it right. it isn't the clutch that's stiff, that's fine. it's the stick shift itself. when i try to move the stick from gear to gear, it's really hard. does that make sense?

lightfoot · #5 08-28-2008, 04:02 PM

The clutch pedal may feel fine but the clutch may not actually be disengaging the trans when you put your foot to the floor. If the engine is not disconnected from the trans by the clutch, the shifter may be hard to move.

phoebeisis · #6 08-28-2008, 08:10 PM

Laurie,
When it happened to my Toyotas, the clutch action "felt' just fine. The stick shift just became "stiff" and then it became almost impossible to shift.

I'm pretty sure I could get it out of gear( when I would completely lift off the throttle) , but it was rough to get in gear.

I don't think the Hybrid has any special trickery involving the clutch, but.... I didn't notice that you had the HCHI until just now. The hybrid might take it out of the DIY category. Still it isn't a pricey repair- if it is the clutch master or slave cylinder- maybe 1 hr shop time+ part- I guess $300 would be a fair price at a dealer.

Charlie

brick · #7 08-28-2008, 08:25 PM

My last Volvo did something like this, but the onset was very sudden. One day I was driving around and I couldn't shift without rev-matching. It turned out that a couple of the clutch spring fingers had collapsed, preventing complete disengagement. I think that was at 75 or 80k miles.

If rev-matching helps then there's no question, it's a clutch problem of some sort. If that's the case you should get it ASAP so that you don't wear the bejesus out of the synchros, which are doing much more work than they should.

**EDIT**
Oh, and if you do need a clutch (as opposed to just the hydraulics) replace the throwout bearing! It's a cheap wear item that often gets neglected during a clutch job.

laurieaw · #8 08-29-2008, 08:31 AM

thanks, guys, i will check into it. i doubt that i would have honda do it, because i don't trust the dealership in town, and the place i bought it is now 85 miles away....well, it didn't move, i did.

laurieaw · #9 09-02-2008, 07:17 AM

well, now it's stuck......can't even shift, and now i can't get to work.

i need to find someone in town to fix it. anyone have any luck with places like AAMCO or any of those other transmission places?

msantos · #10 09-02-2008, 07:40 AM

Hi Laurie;

Even though you have an MT equipped HCH, I would leverage the fact that it is a relatively "new" 2005 and in your situation I would have nobody but Honda do the job on it. Even if it is a dealer you do not trust. I too would hate that, but it is still the best of the worst in my books.

Assuming that their competence is the issue, the dealer is not the ultimate authority should they ever mess up. Then of course, you have the warranty and post service escalation of the work performed which in my experience is not only better than what an independent can provide but also a "good" footnote on your vehicle service history.

If your car was way past its warranty or was a salvaged unit I would probably consider visiting a good independent shop provided they had someone on staff that achieved Hybrid service certification... otherwise I would leave for the people who were likely trained for it.

Cheers;

MSantos