Worn synchro?

[jaffa_cree]

I have just started to notice a click/crunch noise when shifting to 2nd gear, and while launching off 1st gear :(
Not sure what it is but from doing a search on the forums it is pointing me towards a worn synchro.

To be more thorough on the description.
Car is totally stopped.
Clutch pedal in, in 1st gear.
As i let the clutch out and give it gas it will click/crunch like two times.
Then as i shift into 2nd, it will also click/crunch.
The sound is always there for 1st gear no matter how much/less i rev it.
With 2nd gear, the sound does minimise or sometimes disappears if i give it some rev.

Doesn't seem to happen on 3,4,5 or R.

Does this sound like a worn synchro?

[aaronng]

Your click and crunch while in 1st gear when taking off shouldn't be the synchros since you already are in gear.

[ctn]

Pillowball upper mounts?

[jaffa_cree]

Thanks guys.
I will get it looked at ASAP but that wont happen for another 2 weeks :(

I sure hope it is not synchros as i was told they are very expensive to fix in the vicintiy of $1500.

Just went for another drive to listen out to the problem.
All the gears shift in smoothly, no need for a shove.
Noise doesnt seem to be detectable with the window up BUT is VERY noticeable with windows down. Could be why i only heard it today seeing i usually keep the windows up with AC on.
It is a very high pitch click/crunch.
Seems to always happen when launching off 1st gear when giving gas, and 2nd gear happens MOST of the time as i let the clutch pedal out.

Can some one describe the infamous worn synchro crunch?
Even better, if some one has a wav file that shows the sound.

[jaffa_cree]

I finally remember what the clicking sound reminds me of.
It is the sound you get when you change gears on a mountain bike, those shimano gears. It sounds like it is seeking for the gear and trying to engage it in. Like the sound of a toothed belt trying to fit smoothly on a bearing.

Does this rule out on synchros?

[Menthu Rae]

Sure it aint your LSD engaging?

I don't get any "crunch" sounds - but I do find 2nd is a little hard to downshift into from 3rd sometimes, and 1st is very tight - heel-toe'ing on the downshift solves it though, and slides in quite easily after a nice throttle blip... I have no problems on upshifts ^_^

Get it checked out, but it could possibly your LSD - however - it IS McChooks old car... sooo... it could very likely NOT be the LSD... ^_^

[aaronng]

Shimano gear go *shlick*. Try shifting gears when your car is off and at a standstill (of course). Tell us if you hear that same sound.

[jaffa_cree]

Sure it aint your LSD engaging?

I don't get any "crunch" sounds - but I do find 2nd is a little hard to downshift into from 3rd sometimes, and 1st is very tight - heel-toe'ing on the downshift solves it though, and slides in quite easily after a nice throttle blip... I have no problems on upshifts ^_^

Get it checked out, but it could possibly your LSD - however - it IS McChooks old car... sooo... it could very likely NOT be the LSD... ^_^

Doubt it is the LSD (not even sure do i have one).
1, 2, 3, 4, are all very smooth to shift into. Only 5th is a little stiff.
Just doing a slow rolling start on 1st will create those clicking noises and after i release the clutch in 2nd the noise is there again.

The crunch/click noise doesnt occur WHILE shifting to 2nd, it occurs as i ease off the clutch. Does that atleast rule out synchros?

Trying to get it checked out, but busy work schedule prohibits that for another week at the least :(

[jaffa_cree]

Shimano gear go *shlick*. Try shifting gears when your car is off and at a standstill (of course). Tell us if you hear that same sound.

With the car off and clutch to the floor, i can shift through all gears 1 2 3 4 5 R effortlessly with no crunching/clicking noise. 5th is a tad stiff but no problems shifting, R makes a very slight click but was told this is normal.

[racinghonda]

My car does the same thing. I think it is the diff or the CV joint taking up the slack. It also happens when roling along in 2nd gear and back off then ease the throttle on again.

[AMPERAGE]

Have you checked your geabox oil? Sometimes simply changing it can make the world of difference in cutting down noise and making the whole lot feel smoother.

The reason that I suggest oil is because my 5th was a little sticky and made a little noise too. I dumped the old gearbox oil, filled it back up with Motul GEARBOX 80W-90 and problem solved. It also made the rest of the gears feel silkier too. Just an idea is all...

[jaffa_cree]

My car does the same thing. I think it is the diff or the CV joint taking up the slack. It also happens when roling along in 2nd gear and back off then ease the throttle on again.

That is right.
That clicking/grinding sound appears when moving in 1st or 2nd.
It is more audible at lower speeds so if i gas it more when launching off 1st, or shift into 2nd at a higher rev the sound is much softer, and at times not there.

If it is not a synchro problem, can it be a gear bearing issue with my 1st and 2nd. Worn teeth?

[jaffa_cree]

i
Have you checked your geabox oil? Sometimes simply changing it can make the world of difference in cutting down noise and making the whole lot feel smoother.

The reason that I suggest oil is because my 5th was a little sticky and made a little noise too. I dumped the old gearbox oil, filled it back up with Motul GEARBOX 80W-90 and problem solved. It also made the rest of the gears feel silkier too. Just an idea is all...

I just got the car a couple of weeks ago and have only changed oil and oil filter. Have not done anything else because the car came with logs and apparently, the gear box oil has been replaced just 20,000 km ago.
The service manual says replacement of gear box oil should occur at 40,000 intervals so i have not even thought about it.

I will give the gear box a flush and refill. What kind of oil should i use? Genuine Honda or are there better alternatives that arent too pricey?

Should i also replace the clutch fluid, or just the tranmission fluid alone?


EDIT. A better descrption of the problem.
The clicking sound happens at low speeds/low revs in 1st, 2nd, and Reverse gears. It is not just one click, can be 2 or three successive clicks.
Noise is not noticeable with wndows up, but really noticeable when windows are down. The sound seems to be coming from the front right region of the bonnet/wheel.

[jaffa_cree]

I got a friend to drive my car to see if the clicking noise is still there.
He is a more competant manual driver so i was hoping that it was due to the way i drive that causes the clicking noises.

When he drives it, the clicking noise is less frequent and also not as pronouced. When i drive it, it appears almost every time and sounds quite loud.

I finally have some time and will be bringing it to my mechanic this weekend.
Thanks all.

[jaffa_cree]

My dad took it for a drive, but when he drove it the clicking noise was not there at all !!! His explanation was that it is due to the way i drive.

Now, i am new to manual and still learning everytime i drove it.
When i start off in 1st, it will jerk and sputter abit, this is when i hear the clicking noise. After i shift into 2nd and release the clutch, it jerks abit and the noise appears again.

After that, my dad believes that the noise is appearing because it is related to the way i drive, being i release the clutch too early. It makes sense because the sound appears when it is jerky/sputtering.

However, is it normal for this clicking noise to only appear due to the way i drive? I was going to take it to the mechanic but my dad says it should be fine.

[racinghonda]

I guess you've diagnosed your own problem. Just try to be smoother.

[jaffa_cree]

I guess you've diagnosed your own problem. Just try to be smoother.

So driving technique can be the issue here?

I mean, even if i am not smooth, YES the car will sputter, but making very audible clicking noises, is that normal?

EDIT. any ideas of what is causing that noise then?

[AMPERAGE]

How old are you mate? Fresh on your "P" plates?

The Prelude is not that hard a car to drive, however you need to be much more precise in it than, say, a Mitsubishi Lancer. I got my Prelude before I had my P plates, and I found it a lot harder to drive than my instructor's manual Echo, or my friends manual Lancer.

The spluttering that you're getting is the car bogging down - clutch out too fast with not enough revs and the car wants to stall. And as for the clicking, if you're letting the clutch out prematurely, the synchros, rather than slotting in nicely, might only be touching by the tips and they get "pulled" together by the engine revs. I think I know the sound you mean, if something else has my attention when I'm driving and clutch out before I've fully engaged the gear, I get a bit of a clicking / clanking sound.

[racinghonda]

The clicking can be due to the engine being on the verge of stalling. It can also just be the slight amount of play in the drivetrain and your driving just emphasises it. Try to modulate the clutch more finely and don't be afraid to use a few more revs. You should try to hold the clutch at the friction point for a short period before letting it out all the way, this gives the engine a chance to match road speed before you let it fully engage.

The Prelude's engine is a low inertia one, with low friction internals, relatively light fly wheel so its easier to stall than other more agricultural engines. Also, its very responsive which makes driving it smoothly a practiced skill.

[jaffa_cree]

How old are you mate? Fresh on your "P" plates?

The Prelude is not that hard a car to drive, however you need to be much more precise in it than, say, a Mitsubishi Lancer. I got my Prelude before I had my P plates, and I found it a lot harder to drive than my instructor's manual Echo, or my friends manual Lancer.

The spluttering that you're getting is the car bogging down - clutch out too fast with not enough revs and the car wants to stall. And as for the clicking, if you're letting the clutch out prematurely, the synchros, rather than slotting in nicely, might only be touching by the tips and they get "pulled" together by the engine revs. I think I know the sound you mean, if something else has my attention when I'm driving and clutch out before I've fully engaged the gear, I get a bit of a clicking / clanking sound.

I wish i am still that young! *sigh*
This is the first time i am driving manual since driving auto boxes for 7 years. We are learn at some stage dont we :D

I took my friends charade for a drive, and found that was so much easier to drive than the lude. But i guess nothing a few more hours and practice cant perfect. I only have been driving manual for say a tad over 2 hours.

Atleast now i can be relaxed that it aint some major problem, though i still will be getting some mechanical advice from a garage soon.

[ctr kid]

pull ur box apart and lap the synchro with lapping past!
it will work for a while!

u