Still trying to get the darn thing right.... previous issues https://www.honda-acura.net/forums/s...d.php?t=250875

Prelude 1999 SH - new tranny, new clutch

Problem 1: First gear grind
At stand still
Shifting into gears is smooth, some time I have to give it a light push to get in gear, if I shift out and back in, it's smooth for 2nd time. Is this normal?
At traveling speed
Shifting into gears is about the same smoothness, rarely need to give it a light push

Shifting test
- While, driving at 50 MPH, I press the clutch and shift into various gears. The result are 5,4,3 all smooth. 2nd abit hard to get into gear, 1st GRINDS!(even with clutch pedal to the floor).
- I slow vihicle to around 30MPH, try to shift into first, it feel like there is something blocking it, not grinding or going in (I dont give it a STRONG PUSH, dont want to mess up my tranny)
- I slow the vihicle to 15 MPH, i gave it a phush with some resistance, it did go into gear.

Questions:
At high speed 50 mph, shifting into 1st make grinding noise, could this be BAD syncho or clutch not fully released?
I have new lutch and it seem the machenic didn't make pedal adjustment

Is there some sort of safety mechanisim that prevent shifting into first at speed higher than 15MPH?

Cylinder - are they bad?
How to tell if it is I have a BAD master/slave cylinder?

My master cylinder has some gooey oil (not dripping wet) around the moving part and some on the floor. My slave cyinder looks clean and oilless.

Clutch pedal has pressure when pressing down, and do return to normal position when let go.

The control arm, at the spot it connect to the A beam. On SH models (BASE is different) are they suppose to "give" quite abit?

I keep hearing a creaking noise from engine bay when acceleration in first gear form stop, acceleration in second gear on a left turn. I pin point it to the joint between A BEAM and CONTROL arm. I can feel it moves with my finger when car stop abruptly.

 

No. 50mph is way too fast to be trying for 1st gear... the syncronizer simply can't give you that much leeway.
If the 1st gear syncronizer was bad you would know it by grinding or being touchy when the car is at a standstill. A syncronizer simply assists in the meshing of the gears. The stiffness you refer to may simply be a cold tranny (cold/thick oil). Or (since you said it was a new tranny) it may just be fresh internals and tight clearances.

 

a little update - Well, I can't SHIFT INTO FIRST gear AT ALL unless I'm at stand still! Rolling at 5 MPH, try to get into first gear is impossible, it is "stuck", but once slowed down to 1-2 MP walking pace, it goes in but a bit tight. Don't know what wrong with this : [

Thanks for reply.

 

Try clutching twice, Push it in then let it halfway out and push it again, sometimes I have to do that to get it into 1st or reverse, however, common sense should tell you you can't put a car into 1st gear at 50, absolutely not in a prelude, kinda worries me.

 

I don't know the internals of that particular tranny, but there are some out there that use a safety to prevent too low of a gear from being selected.
In this case I'm guessing more toward a damaged or misaligned internal component in that first gear sync.
When you put it into gear at a standstill, is it really hard or does it just slip right in? Do you know how to "float" a gear in a downshift? If you do, be real gentle but try to float into first from second and see if it will go.

 

maybe it was cold oil. it shifts better now. I didn't know tempurature has affect on tranny oil : )

 

You might go to a lighter oil in that case... at least for the colder months. It's quite common to think that a thicker oil in a manual tranny is better, but it really isn't. 10W-30 or 10W-40 are good, all weather oils for the transaxle while 20W-40 and straight 30 are better used in much hotter climates.
Not sure what oil you're running, just wanted to throw this out there, FYI.

 

Just an Update: Suck one

I just found out I've been BURNED! by A-1 Automotive in Austin (my dad and my long time... 8 years machenic)

To make the story short, I took the car to his shop on a complaint about the squeaking noise, my machenic told me to come back next week. Well, took car to Brake Check for alignment in the mean time, a knowlege able fellow point out that the CONTROL ARM is lose, the welding is not holding he BOLT tight enough and a hazard should the bult break lose, my wheel will run freely foward! another thing is my suppose-to-be new TRANNY is a old tranny SILVER PAINTED over. POssibly my old one rebuilt!

I end up needed a NEW cross member -- $423 from dealer, casue SH crossmember is different from base, and the SH is too damn rare

Oh well... beware of A-1 Automotive on Wagon Trail in Austin people! You have been warned : (