I can't shift into reverse.help! - Honda Prelude Forum

nightrider · 02-14-2002, 10:18 PM

I noticed the problem shorty after i got the car in Aug. At first it would be difficult to shift into reverse at times. Then at around 10k miles, 1st gear started acting up. Most of the time 1st gear worked fine but sometimes I'd have to let the clutch out a bit to get into 1st. Now at 12,500 miles I can't shift into reverse no matter what I try.

So I took my car to Hardin Honda in Anaheim. They were clueless. It took them 3 days to try to find the problem. They now claim that the pressure plate is warped or something. They said that its caused by me "hot rodding" and its not covered under the warranty. So they want me to pay $950 for a new clutch and labor.

The thing that I don't get, is that if its caused by me "hot rodding" why was I having problems when I first got the car? Also, if its just the clutch, why did it take 3 days to discover the problem?
Oh ya...The service guy said that he could shift the car into reverse when it is jacked up in the air. He said that he's never run into a problem like this before.

So, what do you think? Can I trust these guys? If not, what's wrong with my tranny? What should I do?
Tony

GoHaN408 · 02-14-2002, 11:02 PM

i think u should get an second opinon on that, dont trust the first ppl u run into. if the second shop says the same, then u figure out the pricing.

AncientPC · 02-15-2002, 01:35 AM

Unless you got burn marks on your clutch or something, it's typically pretty hard to prove that you've been "hotrodding" with your car. Go back and ask them why they think you've been abusing the car and try to convince them in a polite manner to fix your car . . .

mynd_blur · 02-15-2002, 12:15 PM

Many people have complained about manual transmission problems with 5th gen. Get another opinion if you have to. My car was grinding the 4th-5th gear syncro...then like you...one day out of the blue...I couldn't shift into reverse...unless a basically took everthing I had to pull it into gear.

Honda replaced my 5th gear, 5th gear syncro, reverse gear, reverse gear shift fork, reverse gear carrier, some other stuff I think. All under warranty. So make them fix it!. Don't settle for them saying that you broke it.

AncientPC · 02-15-2002, 03:48 PM

They have a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) about 97 Preludes having a 4-5 grind. If you have a 97 you can take it to the dealers and they have to repair it.

MyFirstPrelude · 02-15-2002, 05:23 PM

If it took them literally 3 days to find the problem they need to find another job. Unless your car was there 3 days and they just didn't have enough time to get to checking your car.

There was a post on this a month or two back. I bought my car in October and I was havinge same problems after about 2500 miles. Did you baby your car the first 1500 mi or did you shift like a mad man?

After reading the Owners Manual it actually will say if you have problems shifting into reverse put it into another gear (might as well 5th) then put it back into reverse.

If you have problems getting it into reverse DO NOT just slam it in, if you have been doing that then it is possible you did make it worse.

From my past experience and from freinds, Honda's manual transimission are sometimes a bit notchy the first 5k then it's smooth like butter. Just be patient and always read the manual first

R@CETechPRELUDE · 02-15-2002, 05:26 PM

The exact same thing happened to me.
i just got my car back on monday. I experienced this for months, where it would be difficult to go into reverse. Then two weeks ago it happened, and would not go into reverse. The car only has 13,000 KM on it. It was covered under warranty. They changed the 3rd, 5th, reverse Syncros, main reverse gear, tranny linkage, gasket and some other things. They said they did not know what caused what caused the problem

. Hope you get this fixed, under warranty of course. Good Luck!

Turbo Lude SH · 02-15-2002, 05:30 PM

It happened to me too. My 5th gear synchro is going bad, and it used to pop out of 5th gear, which was activating the reverse lockout system. Which prevents it front slamming into reverse on the freeway. It should go away, it did on mine and it's happened twice, goes away in a day or two.

JDM H22A4 · 02-15-2002, 07:16 PM

ha ha ha your in for something now..i had the exact same problem and instead of asking all these people to check it out which is going to cost alot of money i suggest you just get a new tranny...thats what i had to do ...i wasnt sure if it was the synchros or not but i didnt want to bother with the the labor and parts which would cost the same if i got a new tranny...when you go to a shop...check the shift linkages...it could be that...but if nnot all i can say is its your tranny...and since your taking out the tranny..just get a new cluctch and flywheel...thats what i did...and im glad i made that choice

athakur999 · 02-16-2002, 12:55 PM

Quote:

They have a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) about 97 Preludes having a 4-5 grind. If you have a 97 you can take it to the dealers and they have to repair it.

Is it free and does is matter if the car is under manufacturer warranty or not? I found the TSB on the NHTSA web site but didn't see anything regarding how the dealer will handle it...