engineboy

hello, I've got me a problem. It's a 99 Si pretty much stock except the Clutchmasters Stage 3 clutch and Clutchmasters 9lb flywheel. One the highway in 5th if the engine is revving under 4k rpm, the rpms seem to jump from like 3500 to like 3800 or from like 3000 to like 3300, basically, whenever I step on the gas heavily or lightly, the car doesn't push at all, just jumps rpms and then finally grips and pushes until it slips again. Now I don't think it's my cluch because that was done in mid september, is it my tranny? I will do a fluid change as at the moment I have 10W30 in there but will put the honda stuff in there, but I doubt that this should help. Does anybody have any idea what the problem is or might be? Should I start looking for a tranny? It also happens in 4th gear too but only a few times, I usually just slip it into 5th on the highway and don't bother to downshift much until I am getting off. Thanks for your input

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Your clutch is at fault. Trannys make death noises, pop out of gears, or get stuck in gears...this is clearly a clutch issue. Are you sure the tranny was not overfilled? Oil could be leaking onto the clutch. Besides that, 10W30 is what my dealer uses all the time, but I will switch to synthetic or back to Honda stuff cause shift feel improves. However, as fas as wear goes, 10W30 is just as good. Have your clutch removed, re-aligned and inspected for irregular wear. I know it's a lot of money, but your tranny is just fine. Also, most likely gears to wear out and die on a tranny are 2nd and 3rd. Not 5th.

SiR-Racer

i'm getting my manual tranny fluid changed soon, so if i bring it to the dealer they'll just put in 10W30 instead of the "honda" stuff? i would've thought that since it was made from honda that the dealerships would use it automatically.

HyperFlow

correct me if im wrong....but dosn;t a 99 Si take sincro mesh?......the older honda's take normal engine oil....but a 99 Si will take sincro mesh

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

No, Windsor Honda laughed at me when I wanted to buy the fluid, they were like "$12 a liter, are you crazy?" So I pimp slapped them, and told them to give me the shiat!! The man said, "We don't stock it, we just dump 10W30 in there". I changed the fluid myself, it's really easy. I suggest opening up the plug, leaving it open, then use el cheapo organic 10W30 and dump it in to wash out the insides, then let it drain good for a while, and plug it back up, and refill with Honda fluid (MAKE SURE YOU ORDER ENOUGH IN ADVANCE!). Check your manual, but I think it takes close to 4 liters. Also have a good CLEAN funnel. If Honda fluid is unavailable, you can use AMSOIL or REDLINE or MOTUL, or some other high performance synthetic oil, but the feeling in the tranny won't be the same. It'll feel notchier. I've also seen fluid from KAAZ and CUSCO. If I'm wrong on any of the accounts (like the price of Honda stuff or the amt of fluid, can't blame me cuz I did this two years ago). Just check your manual or go to Walmart and buy a Chilton.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

What the hell is sincro mesh...that's not a fluid at all. All Honda trannys are the same, and the only way you'll need something different is if you are doing a diff oil change and your diff is an LSD unit, in that case you will need to use a fricition additive. My Crown Vic needed that in the rear end diff, but I've never heard of that in a Honda tranny, and it's not even called sincro mesh. I think you are referring to the syncros, the little mechanism that matches the gear speeds so that your tranny doesn't grind in every gear (just reverse), and every transmission in the world nowdays has syncros (the Cavalier Getrag tranny even has syncros in reverse). Correct me if I'm wrong, but LOOK IN YOUR MANUAL FIRST. YOUR MANUAL IS THE GREATEST RESOURCE FOR RELIABLE INFO. There are all kinds of wannabe mechanics out here, each with their own information (including myself), which is why you need to double-check all information you find on the net.

shepworldwide

did you properly break in ur new clutch?
are you past the break-in period now?

Whiplash

might be the slave is sticking up too..not fully releasing the throw out bearing..

if full pressure isn't applied to the clutch disc by the plate it'll slip then too....make sure your slave cylinder is full, no air in it...

KS-R

You say that the rpms jump and slip.. Is it actually slipping or just the needle jumping?

engineboy

thanks for all the help guys and gals.
KSR- it's not the just the needle, it actually slips, because when I feel it slipping, I touch the pedal and then it begins to slip even more. You actually feel a jerk, it's as if something was stuck in the tranny and with a little bit of patience, it unclogs and keeps gaing on the rpms.

bbarbulo- I was there when the clutch was being put it in, I didn't do it, my mechanic did, but I watched him insert the alignment tool and then the clutch plate and then the pressure plate, but I think that might be the problem.

ONE MORE THING
The clutch was broken in properly, I took my time, did it for about 700km's, drove very gently, but it was also making a funny clicking sound. The clicking only occured at very low revs, just after you started moving or when coming to a stop. And it would only happen if the engine was running, if you were rolling and shut the engine off, the clicking would stop even if the car kept on rolling. I thought it was just regular break-in thing for the clutch, the clicking went away after about 1000km's on the new clutch. Anybody have any more ideas?? Thanks for all your help

Whiplash

everytime you engage the clutch it flies free..so in a sense you might say it aligns itself
providing the bushing in the end of the crank is good i can't see it being an alignment problem..(unless someone took out the dowels that align the pressure plate..that's be just plain stoopid tho )

it could be the springs in the pressure plate have gone sour as well..i've seen that a few times too..

don't know if the stage 3 has springs in the clutch disc or not like the "oem" ones do, but that might have been your clicking..sometimes they don't fit into the disc super tite..

engineboy

Stage 3 clutch disc has 6 springs, just like stock I believe. I changed my fluid to Honda just a few hours ago, and I took it for a spin. I don't think it's my tranny after all, I think I might be having a misfiring problem, when at idle revving the engine it sounds a little iffy, and don't push as hard as it used to push. I am gonna have to get rid of the damn 'check engine' light and figure out exactly what's wrong. Thanks for your inputs all