[cl9] Broke my differential!

[Zed]

Today, I am in shock. I have just learnt from the transmission specialist that I broke the Honda Euro differential...

The car is a 2003 Auto model with a few mods with only 39,000kms. I do like to play hard, specifically cornering (lowered), two trips to the drag strip. Nothing major - no circuit work.

Til now, this car has been perfect. Nary a thing go wrong. In fact, only servicing I've ever done is oil, filters, rotate tyres, topups.

The other day, whilst 400m from home (luckily), I was taking a roundabout and applied some (OK - alot) of throttle to spin the tyres when I heard a bang muffled by music. I switched off sound system, no other sounds. Got home (mind you, I took a few more corners to get home without any drama) and noticed smoke coming out of the front grille. Popped the bonnet and saw oil sprayed everywhere. Looked under the car and noticed a trail of oil leading down the street.

Got under her, removed the undertray and found blackish oil everywhere so I figured it must be engine oil. Sump & oil filter were intact, not much oil on block. Captured some oil & had a whiff -- no petrol smell and had a very feint red tone to it. Couldn't find any lines or hoses broken but oil was everywhere. I thought it must be an axle seal.

Towed the car to a transmission specialist and got a report back the diff centre pin has left the assembly. Went to check it out, the diff housing (previously covered by another case) had two holes in it, one had the pin wedged into it.:(

What to do? A replacement 2nd hand box is $1800 + $500 fitting with 6mths warranty. Rebuilding it has a question mark pricetag -- depends on what they find when they strip it down.

[aaronng]

I would use a replacement 2nd hand box. I never trust autobox rebuilds, even by dealers.

[Zed]

The transmission specialist stated that this problem could happen again with a 2nd hand box. They offered to strengthen the cast iron diff centre assembly with a rebuild.

[r-r-redEuro]

Buy a dc5r box and replace it =P manual more fun + lsd. well thats what i would do anyways.

[Pumped]

I'd go with a 2nd hand box with warranty
A previous car of mine had a very similar issue after just 50,000kms of easy driving and not being thrashed
it was just 3 weeks out of warranty
Nissan admitted it should of been a warranty issue but would not cover it due to just being out of warranty.
Replaced it with a second hand box and it was fine

I'd go second hand, look around the internet might be able to find one cheaper then 2g from a wreckers

ive used partslocator.com.au a few times and had luck finding the right gear

[vte18c]

So to the people in the know.. are these boxes weak as piss or was this just a one off scenario?

[claymore]

Get a core from a wreaking yard and stop spinning the tires while going around corners. That is the most damaging thing you can do to the trans because the wheels are not spinning at the same speed and it puts uneven stress into the trans and diff.

[Type R Positive]

So to the people in the know.. are these boxes weak as piss or was this just a one off scenario?
your driving style is weak as piss! :p

[JohnL]

I reckon Claymore is on the money. The pinion gears in the diff aren't really designed to be spun at speed with load. The'yre only there to allow a small difference in axle rotation speeds to account for the differing corner radius encountered by each wheel, but when you spin one wheel hard then the pinions also rotate very fast with a lot of load on them.

Sure they'll handle this abuse for a while, but not forever. Keep in mind that the bearings the pinions rotate on are quite small...

[tron07]

Buy a dc5r box and replace it =P manual more fun + lsd. well thats what i would do anyways.

yeah man :thumbsup:

I would do this too

[vte18c]

your driving style is weak as piss! :p

Im not the OP, I havent blown a box I'm just asking as a general question so I know what it can handle and what it cant. So if you dont mind.. :zip:

[Pumped]

Manual conversion would be more trouble then good

Converting an auto car to manual never seems to go right lol

never has the feel of a standard manual car

[Zed]

Well, it seems the 2nd hand replacement option is the way to go. A new box fitted is approx $6k! The damage inside is probably not worth rebuilding as there may be more damage than obvious.
PS- Whilst it aint a sportscar, it is a sporty family car, which is what I wanted. Being a Honda, I figured it was tough enough for sports driving.

[JasonGilholme]

sports driving and spinning wheels on purpose through the corners on are two different things.

[aaronng]

This is the 2nd I've heard. The 1st is on tsx.acurazine.com.

[Min988]

A mate I know with 2003 euro had the same problem 2 months ago with 45000k's, he ended up replacing it with a new box for 6k, but his driving style sucks.

Here he is-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sK-Qi0wSBs

[EUR003act]

is that $1800 for a complete gearbox second hand?

[tron07]

Manual conversion would be more trouble then good

Converting an auto car to manual never seems to go right lol

never has the feel of a standard manual car


How true.. It would look pretty ugly unless you get a dash and center console of a manual too... then the pedals

[Suntzu]

I went through 3 - 5 speed auto boxes on my previous magna sports in 60 000km. One every 20 00km. Never spun the wheels once. Piece of shit mitsubishi. Never get one again.

Im surprised to hear of it in a euro. Sounds like you muight be better off with a manual or maybe a commodore with taht driving style.....

[Zed]

Euro03: Complete 2nd hand transmission is approx $1800 + fitting.
Manual transmission conversion is much more complex than people expect. Pedals, dash, computer, mounts, centre console, stick, linkages. You may as well buy a manual from the outset.
DSG-style Manual will be my choice on next car so wife can still drive if I'm tired/under the influence. That technology wasn't around when I bought my Euro so I had to go auto. And 4WD. ie. 2nd hand Golf R32 or Evo9 or if I can afford to stretch: BMW 135i or Evolution X.
PS - I have a VX Commodore v6 but it aint any fun nor nice to drive compared to Euro.

[tim-e]

I'd put a second hand transmission in, then start thinking about offloading the car. It's like that first fatal piss when you're out drinking... http://www.themixingbowl.org/image/smilies/closedeyes.gif

[vte18c]

I'd put a second hand transmission in, then start thinking about offloading the car. It's like that first fatal piss when you're out drinking... http://www.themixingbowl.org/image/smilies/closedeyes.gif

x2, then buy a manual.

[rambohung]

Get a core from a wreaking yard and stop spinning the tires while going around corners. That is the most damaging thing you can do to the trans because the wheels are not spinning at the same speed and it puts uneven stress into the trans and diff.

So does that mean having the VSA on is a good idea to prevent that happening (beside from driving like snail lol)?

[Suntzu]

No. Leave VSA off, contiunue to drive like a tool and you can join this thread as an official member of the f'ed auto brigade. If VSA is making you drive like a snail then you dont know what you are doing and should buy a commodore also.

[rambohung]

No. Leave VSA off, contiunue to drive like a tool and you can join this thread as an official member of the f'ed auto brigade. If VSA is making you drive like a snail then you dont know what you are doing and should buy a commodore also.

that's not what I mean. I like to learn more, that's why I ask.

I mean VSA prevent wheel spining by limiting the engine & control the breaks act like a traction control, and does that help to prevent the damage to transmission? and what I mean is if you drive like a snail, then wheel spin will not happen.......

[Type R Positive]

I mean VSA prevent wheel spining by limiting the engine & control the breaks act like a traction control, and does that help to prevent the damage to transmission? Yes. :)

[CB7_OWNER]

Could someone elaborate more as too why wheel spin damages the tranny??? i've broken traction in the wet around the corner,,, where the speedo reads 80km/h ..but obviously the car was only moving at like 20km/h or something... btw my car is old soo there is no precise speed sensor thingy?? and only tells me the speed in relation to the wheels rotation?

[Type R Positive]

Could someone elaborate more as too why wheel spin damages the tranny??? i've broken traction in the wet around the corner,,, where the speedo reads 80km/h ..but obviously the car was only moving at like 20km/h or something... btw my car is old soo there is no precise speed sensor thingy?? and only tells me the speed in relation to the wheels rotation?
Read JohnL's post..... ;)

[Zed]

So Suntzu must be a Honda F1 driver under disguise?

FYI: VSA was on. The ground was wet. The tyres are original Michelin's with low tread but surface wasn't pooled with water, it had just sprinkled.

Also, spoke to a Honda wrecker and he tells me that Honda manual trans is stronger than auto trans.

[Suntzu]

So Suntzu must be a Honda F1 driver under disguise?

FYI: VSA was on. The ground was wet. The tyres are original Michelin's with low tread but surface wasn't pooled.

Im going to apply the logic of your statement.

You say you left VSA on but in your OP "I was taking a roundabout and applied some (OK - alot) of throttle to spin the tyres" You intended to spin the wheels ( a lot) yet left VSA on? Stop bullshiting and wasting our time. It really annoys me when things break on these cars due to user stupidity then said user has a massive winge about the cost and honda when they 100% know its their own fault.

Do stupid things with your car, spin the wheels and destroy your gearbox and have a winge about it = Normal Driver

Leave VSA On, Drive Normally with the Occassional Vtec Fueled Squirt and Dont destroy gearbox = F1 Driver

Sounds intelligent and well thought through to me.:thumbdwn:

/end rant

[EUR003act]

Leave VSA On, Drive Normally with the Occassional Vtec Fueled Squirt and Dont destroy gearbox = F1 Driver


If i leave VSA on i cant use first gear WOT... and second gear VTEC just doesnt do justice :p hahaha

[Zed]

Unlike Suntzu, I don't modify my car to show off and drive Miss Daisy. My mods are intentional for more performance in all areas. VSA was on and I was driving the car sporty.

My driving isn't limited to straight line throttle. Any idiot can do that.

[Suntzu]

Unlike Suntzu, I don't modify my car to show off and drive Miss Daisy. My mods are intentional for more performance in all areas. VSA was on and I was driving the car sporty.

My driving isn't limited to straight line throttle. Any idiot can do that.

I dont have any bodykit, you do. I dont have my car so low that the suspension cant work reducing the handling. You do. You drive around doof doofing spinning wheels through a roundabout by your own admission.I dont.

Pretty bloody obvious to evry single person in this thread that YOU WERE SHOWING OFF AND WRECKED YOUR CAR so shut up about it and suck it up.

Most importantly Harden The F**K up.

[aaronng]

Closing this because it is becoming a catfight. Will reopen when ppl calm back down.

Driving like that on the street is not smart. It all seems like fun, until somebody gets hurt.