imported_BlitzSix

This thread is going to make me sound like an idiot, but I'm not... i swear I've driven stick for over a year, in many different cars (my 240, civic, a few freinds bmws, saabs, etc you get the point), and IMO, I can drive very well... I start and shift very smoothly without overrevving at all...in fact I always pay extra attention to put minimal wear of the clutch at all times. I alwasy rev match, I heel to toe fine, etc.

But this stupid car has me stumped... on this latest Civic that I got, I *can't* start it off smoothly. You know how when you dont give it enough gas when you're starting off...the car like vibrates for a second? Well, it always does this..not matter what. In my other cars I can always have the clutch fully released by the time I'm at 1100 RPM while keep it perfectly smooth, but on this car even if I go to liek 1500 before fully releasing the clutch it vibrates jsut a tiny bit like that.

If there is the tiniest downhill, or I'm moving even 0.0001 km/h, then I can start it fine... but from a complete standstill or on an uphill, every time I start, it vibrates a bit like I released the clutch too fast. It's REALLY starting to bug me, and I have no idea why it happens. Usually when the light turns green I try to start off quick, but even if I take the time to be careful and let go of the clutch really slowly it STILL does this, but for just a split second.

It seems as if the clutch engagement point is so tiny, that it's impossible for me to doing it perfect. Shifting to second, or any other gear is fine, it's so smooth you can't even tell I shifted... starting off in reverse it's fine too... just somehow first gear gets me and won't engage smoothly.

Anyone else have this problem... am I doing something wrong, or could this be a mechanical issue, or am I just not used to the car yet (got it a couple weeks ago), or what could it be? The clutch does not slip or anything so I don't think it's that.

Thanks!

imported_dr.drew1987

hmm never heard of rev matching or anything, i just rev to 6K and let off the clutch, no vibration there expect the front tires bouncing off the road lol.

imported_bananax

maybe your gas pedo is a little stiff? I dunno =p I don't have that problem unless I really dont give it enough gas, usually i hover at around 1100-1300 on take off

1500ish when im careless
let the clutch go slower i guess

chris_si98

well..

Is there an aftermarket clutch in there? do you even know?

Nova_Dust

Could be a aftermarket clutch like Chris pointed out.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

your dr side lower engine mount bushing is prolly torn. it's meant to dampen that longitudinal engine movement.

plus as others pointed out, it could be poor clutch material from a cheap aftermarket clutch, or the flywheel may not have been machined (resurfaced) when the new disk was installed... OR the clutch may be contaminated.

start by checking that mount... it's kinda under the power steering unit on the front of the block. while you're at it, inspect the tranny mounts as well.

imported_janz3n

try replacing the o2 sensor as well.. mine seemed to stop doing that as much when i replaced it. but im sure my motor mounts are shot too.

chris_si98

this has notihng to do with the o2 sensor. YOu're o2 most likely caused a bog from running rich. Completely un-related..

imported_BlitzSix

I don't think it's an aftermarket, because then it would be hard to get into 2nd smoothly as well.

My 240 had an ACT clutch in it. I *LOVE* how the clutch on that car was, it was SO easy to operate...because the way it was is, it didn't even give you 1 millimeter of travel before it gripped. IE, RIGHT as you even begin letting go of the clutch, it starts engaging... so on a hill, etc, it's just so simple because you don't have to let go of the clutch and estimate the engagement point and then give it gas, because you know 100% where the engagement point is so you just give a touch of gas and let go of clutch slowly and it goes up the hill 100% easily and smoothly with 0 rolling back.

But yeah I'll check those mounts... honestly I'll probalby end up waiting till summer to do them, is that bad or okay? Are they hard to do or no? Anyone want to help me out ?

The mount sounds right actually because my buddies engine mounts are gone on his sab, and its the exact same way on his car but about 100x worse haha, I guess his are completely gone.

imported_dr.drew1987

motor mount kits are relitively cheap as well which is a bonus

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

it's easy to do as long as the bolts aren't seized. good luck.

and no, just don't do any hard driving till you can change the mounts. take it easy on the car.

VTEC_Thunder

Makes sense that a bad mount with cause you engine to "chatter" or "vibrate" on take off in 1st gear only. I'd be leaning torwards that as the cause of the problem....


However, friend of mine has a 6 puck ceramic aftermarket clutch in his 04 matrix XRS...I can drive stick in just about any vehicle without any problems....except his car. That particular clutch makes it interesting to start off in 1st. He can do it in his sleep of course cause he's used to it. Took him along time to get used to it tho. Everyone else who has tried driving his car wither stall s it or spins the snot outta the tires....lol.

imported_janz3n

lol well if bogging causes vibration then how is this completely unrelated
so i must of imagined my car to vibrate less after i replaced it. not saying its the only problem here im just saying it could be old and could probably be replaced anyways. it helped my car vibrate less when i started in 1st.

chris_si98

who says bogging causes clutch chatter (which is what he's experiencing)

His problem is not his o2 trust me. If it was he'd be complaining about other problems.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

BTW I've noticed clutch chatter to be fairly normal in almost all Civics when it's really cold out. Even my car back when it was brand new, the clutch chattered in the cold if I wasn't careful slipping it out.

imported_janz3n

is it just me or did i not see this guy say anything about clutch chatter and only wrote that it vibrated?

what other problems would he experience if it was the o2?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

dear god man, you're wrong, just let it go!!!!! you ARE ****ING WRONG!

Oldspower

omfg racist!

imported_janz3n

ok what ever.. i give up. im not wrong though

chris_si98

bruno.. what is with these guys man, they just don't give up.. LOL

it might be a faulty fpr too, might as well diagnosis the whole FI system....