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'87 Civic 5 Speed - "rebuilt" But - Mystery Shifts


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#1
nodiak

  • Granny
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    • Location:Eureka, CA
    • Drives: 1987 Civic DX

I bought this 87 Hatch for a good price because previous owner had problems with a used trans that was put in by a mechanic, but shifts incorrectly.

I am not a mechanic but could follow along the conversation, and have a trusted mechanic to do any work.

Am asking to see if these symptoms show an obvious problem with any of you. The engine runs great, exterior and interior are nice, 137k miles, so it's worth keeping if simple enough to solve the riddle.

Here's how it shifts:

1st = 3rd or higher

2nd = correct (can drive it in 2nd).

3rd, 4th = 3rd or higher, so may be correct.

5th = reverse.

Neutral = reverse.

Maybe this shows an obvious problem, or is a true mystery (guess it could be a good joke car at the fair).

Trying to learn if it's best to just rebuild this trans, or find another one. Also wondering if it's possible the trans is ok but was just installed out of alignment.

Thanks for any help,

Don

 



#2
3rd gen sinner

  • Slowpoke
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    • Group: 2016 Contributor
    • Location:Tampa FL.
    • Drives: 15 Kia Sorento, 86 Civic
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Wow, this is a strange one. As far as I know, there is no way to install the linkage where it will be out at all, unless its the wrong trans and not quite sure how that would happen. Only help I maybe is for you to check the two shifter bushings, larger round one the trans and the one on the rear end of the shifter linkage. Also check the universal joint in the linkage and make sure the bitch/spring roll pin is installed connecting the linkage to the trans. May even want to knock the pin out to make sure it was redrilled. If all of that is good, then something in the trans must be really messed up.

#3
gtpilot

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    • Location:Lakeway, TX - USA
    • Drives: '87 CRX Si - HYDRA, '86 CRX Si
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I can't believe that the car could actually move with the problem you describe...  If shifting into Neutral causes it to go into Reverse, you pass that gate every time you are selecting a new gear - reverse has no synchros and it would grind like a mad man trying to get into Reverse.  I am guessing that if you do drive it at some point it is going to select two gears at once and it will just destroy the transmission and potentially other thing linked to it.

 

My guess is that the detente balls are missing and you have shifter forks that do not have the bolt through the rail that they slide on - seriously, I would not drive it...I would open it up and find you what is going on before you have a pile of scrap on your hands.

 

Kirk



#4
PuddleSkipper

  • Ecomodder/Hypermiler
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    • Drives: 87 Civic Si, 89 Civic LX, 00 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 84 Civic 1500S (R.I.P.), 85 Wagovan (R.I.P.), 84 Civic GL (R.I.P.)

I had the same problem with the neutral equals reverse, other than that I couldn't get it in gear. I had a kid rebuild it that was a certified mechanic, he ended up just giving me back the money I spent on the kit and no charge. I'll never do that again. Most manuals with less than 200 k are good, I just swapped in a different trans and I was good to go.



#5
nodiak

  • Granny
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    • Group: Members
    • Location:Eureka, CA
    • Drives: 1987 Civic DX

It really is mysterious. As long as clutch pedal is depressed it can shift through the neutral position (or any other) without grinding. So to start or have engine running need to have clutch pedal in. Then can drive in 2nd or reverse (in all of it's many positions...). Have only done this to test rest of car's operation.

Thought it may have been something obviously wrong to someone, but it's just weird!

Will start looking for another trans to have installed. I'm sure there are parts missing or out of place in this one.

Thanks for replies, at least I know it's just a strange situation!

Don



#6
anjin

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Just to share.  I had to swap in a replacement manual transmission in a Mitsubisi magna from a facelift model a year older.  It was a cable transmission with the select gate  part of the gear shift mechanism on the tunnel.  It all went together fine, but when I started it up the car wouldn't move. Gave up, shut it down but as the engine died I let out the clutch with the gear select in reverse.  The car jumped forward. Further experimentation found that first was fifth, second was reverse, and so on.  Between the old and facelift models they had reversed the gate pattern in the gear selector. 

 

That car was thief proof.


anjin aka Ian

"I can't believe it - Ive just been passed by a sh!tbox"