Fellow Luders......please read this - Honda Prelude Forum

ice1cube · 02-25-2002, 07:13 PM

I am in the process of compiling a list of people who have experienced the problem of failed shift forks, synchros, and fifth gear and reverse problems. I am sending the compilation to Honda-Care to prove to them that the problem with my car is not due to abuse but is a widespread and recurring problem.

If you have experienced this problem before or are currently experiencing it, please post a reply here describing your situation, how it was serviced, and the exact problem.

Thanks to everyone who helps.

freefaller · 02-25-2002, 07:45 PM

I have a 2001 base lude, which I bought new 9 months ago. Last week I was locked out of reverse--took it to the dealer and they said it was a faulty synchonizer, I've also had problems in the past with grinding gears--especially 4th into 5th. Even after the synchonizer was replaced I still have problems and will have to take the care back in again.

Derek Gordon
Annapolis MD
US Naval Academy
443-822-0142

pearlude · 02-25-2002, 08:11 PM

Until my car is warmed up (the gearbox), which takes 15-20 minutes, engaging second is always an experience..it's not an audible grind in the traditional sense...but I feel all sorts of jank vibration and grinding with my hand..5th is the same way too when cold. Took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong

Guess I'll bring it back when it progresses to the point where I can no longer drive the car.

Blue___Lude · 02-25-2002, 08:15 PM

'01 Honda Prelude Base 5 speed

My reverse gear has locked out every now and then. Although it isn't a persistent thing, it is evident and does occur every once and a while.

My first gear also locks up (from a complete stop). Although this is relatively rare, it has happened before.

I'm generally much more worried about the reverse lock out problem, as it has seemed to be more evident as time goes on.

I haven't taken it to a Honda dealership yet, but if it becomes a widespread problem on my vehicle, I definitely will.

Blue___Lude · 02-25-2002, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pearlude
Until my car is warmed up (the gearbox), which takes 15-20 minutes, engaging second is always an experience..it's not an audible grind in the traditional sense...but I feel all sorts of jank vibration and grinding with my hand..5th is the same way too when cold. Took it to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong

Guess I'll bring it back when it progresses to the point where I can no longer drive the car.

Oh yeah, that happens to me as well.

iLCaPo · 02-25-2002, 08:43 PM

my reverse gear locks up once in awhile........ also grinds in 1st to 2nd if shifted wrong......which shouldnt happen if the clutch isnt engaged.... let mem know if im wrong?

Joe

BlackSH · 02-25-2002, 09:16 PM

my reverse is a lil bad but if found a way to get it to work better i always pump clutch 2 times before going into reverse... 2nd gear has problems when not warmd up well i dont kno if thats exact reason but alot of people say thats why.

ninja · 02-25-2002, 09:17 PM

I have had many problems with my transmission. It has been rebuilt twice, and I'm going to have to get it done a third time!

Problems so far:

- Purchased the car in March 2001. A used 2000 Prelude with 14.000km.

- April 2001 experienced a grind from 4th to 5th 100km/h and above. Transmission was rebuilt in May. 4th and 5th gear syncros and 4th and 5th gears were replaced under warranty.

- July 2001 experienced a grind from 2nd to 3rd gear in high RPMs. Original dealership denied warranty coverage because of high RPMs. I made my case to Honda Canada, and a different dealership agreed with me that there was a defective syncro to blaim and they rebuilt the transmission under warranty. 3rd syncro and gear was replaced.

- February 2002 experienced a grind from 1st to 2nd during cold weather. Grind occurs for approximately 10 minutes of driving until the transmission warms up. Once, the transmission "popped" out of gear (2nd). I was almost involved in an accident, because this happened as I was proceeding through an intersection. The only way to avoid the problem is to shift from 1st into 3rd gear. I am waiting to hear back from the dealership to see if they will cover the problem. If not, I will present my case to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration plan and request that Honda buy back my vehicle.

These are my transmission problems alone. I have experienced numerous other lesser problems, such as "shock knock".

typeshlude · 02-25-2002, 09:21 PM

reverse lockout, need to shift back to neutral, release the clutch and depress again, then shift back into reverse

first gear lockout from a stop, need to clutch again or shift to 2nd, then back to 1st

nasty..nasty 2nd gear grind. Rarely audible, but the feeling is awful. very rough transition into 2nd

lucky for me.....only a very very slight feeling of a grind into 3rd, and nothing for 5th.

rondall31 · 02-25-2002, 10:10 PM

My 2000 base prelude had gear grinding from 4th to 5th and i only had around 15000 miles on the car. I took it in to a local honda and they blamed me for the problem, saying i was shifting to hard, reving too high, and also blaming my dc headers which they currently sell in the parts dept. I did not know what to do at the time and needed my car to get around since they did not give me a rental car after asking couple of times. The sales clerk that was in charge of my car, said he also gave me a big discount. They ended up charging me around $750. They keep saying the car was going to be done the next day, but they took their time and blamed it on the part they had to special order, so i did not get my car back until five days later. When i picked up my car, the sales clerk gave me a paper that told me not to down shift from any gear. He said he printed it out from the internet.
And for the gear not going into 1st and reverse. I use the same method as Typeshlude. And this problem happens atleast twice a week. My warrenty i believe has been over, and I cannot afford to go to honda to have the problem fix, so im stuck with a prelude with a messed up transmission.

ickfoo · 02-25-2002, 10:13 PM

i agree with the stopped to 1st shifting problem.
i don't see the reverse lockout often, but it has happened.

ice1cube · 02-25-2002, 10:16 PM

well i'm stuck with a prelude with a messed up transmission stuck at the dealership ....... and they are charging me $1600 to fix it and voided my extended warranty on the basis that i have an intake

Turbo Lude SH · 02-25-2002, 10:35 PM

I had every problem you listed. Bent shift fork, bad 5th gear syncrho and reverse lockout problem (because of the 5th gear synchro being bad).

I bought the parts from Honda and handled the labor myself, cost me $550 total. My 5th gear synchro is ALREADY going bad, their is something definatly wrong with the design in this tranny.

NtPReLuDe · 02-25-2002, 11:13 PM

I'm going to take my car to Honda this Wednesday, I had a problem before on the freeway when I couldn't get in any gear. I had to pull over on the freeway, once stopped I tried a couple of times and it was working fine. Also, 1st gear sometimes locks up when I stop... Shifting isn't as smooth as it once was. I can give you more details if you'd like, just mail me.
ntprelude@hotmail.com

screamer5300 · 02-25-2002, 11:22 PM

I think it takes patience to drive the MT. My shifter locks out from stop to 1st sometimes, where I have to put it in second then to 1st again. my reverse locks out, but once you re-engage the cluch then it works. 2nd is always the hardest gear to engage, because I think we rev so high. I think it's hardest to engage when the RPM is at 4000 to 5200rpm, just before the vtec kicks in. It's easier to shift into second after the vtec kicks in. You just have to really try to shift it right, and not force it. WHen I'm stopped at the light, I go through the gears while the clutch is down. It smooths out, like hot knife on butter. after that it's ok for a little bit. I think it's best when you shift with your palm. Anyway, I don't think you'll get a respond from honda with this problem. Prelude is discontinued, and I think Honda would rather deal with s2000 problems(oh so many problems) then give us some attention.

butgood luck.

ZMonkey11 · 02-26-2002, 08:51 AM

2000 Prelude

Same for me. Grind 5th, locked out of reverse TWICE at only 35,000 miles. TWICE, as in I came back for the same problem after they fixed it.

01gen5h22a · 02-26-2002, 09:07 AM

i have had my prelude for a while and i do not have any of these probs.............heres what i think is wrong, its kind of like brakes or a L.S.D. befor you start to shift hard and red line the rpm...you should brake it in....dont start shifting hard until like 2000 miles ...down shift to slow down as much as you can and go threw all the gears when shifting up......i just think you have to brake it in for a while......and for those who bought your car used i think the last owner did not brake in the clutch.....but like i said this is just what i think...

BlackLude98 · 02-26-2002, 09:11 AM

I've had the same problems with lock-out from 1st gear. Reverse is worse though and I've had to double-clutch and shift into 1st just to get it into reverse many many times. I also have problems with the 1st to 2nd gear shift in my 5th gen. This problem has been bugging me forever and the cause has been the synchros. Haven't taken it to the dealer because the car is out of warranty.

~Alex

langrehr · 02-26-2002, 10:49 AM

i have the first gear lock out ever once and a while. mainly on cold mornings. But no other problems other wise. I normaly dont drive that hard eather and i only have 4k+ on my car. But still at that low milage nothing should be wrong.

97PreludeSH · 02-26-2002, 11:49 AM

reverse and fifth lockout.

third time it happened in the last year, gonna take it in soon.
first time payed $2000 canadian. faulty synchro, pinion gear and so on.

Pain in the ass.

Oh, 1997 Honda Prelude Type SH, original problem happened at 55k miles.