are there any problems with 5-speed - Honda Prelude Forum

koreanmafia · 02-02-2002, 10:33 PM

i was just wanting to know if there were any problems with the 5-speed ludes?? b/c i might be trading in my ss for the 5-speed, because i am already starting to have problems with my ss with 4k miles!!... and i don't want to get the 5-speed and have other or worse problems with it.

thanx
kmafia

gLudeous · 02-03-2002, 01:12 AM

Eeek! Plenty of people complain about things, there are four that I think I've heard of most and I experience to some degree.

1. First gear won't engage. Sometimes at a standstill it absolutely will not go completely into first gear. If you slowly let the clutch out slightly it will usually pop into gear, but will sometimes grind. Safest thing to do is to let it roll a few inches and it will go in no problem, or use 2nd to move a few inches and then go right into first.

2. Same thing for reverse.

3. 1 -> 2 grind. Sometimes if you really wind it up it will not go into 2nd very happily. I don't know how bad it gets, mine only rarely does this and usually it's because I'm too quick with the shifter and don't get it in completely, but I think it's worse for some people.

4. 4 -> 5 grind. Same deal as the 1 -> 2 grind. Again not always a problem. If you do the shift slowly and match revs it works okay. It's easiest just to get all your accelerating done in 4th then you can take all the time you want getting into 5th. Going 5 -> 4 works fine so you can pass with no problems.

Cold weather makes all of these worse, and once the transmission warms up #3 and #4 don't happen as often. No matter how long you've been running the car, #1 and #2 can happen. Also, these are what I've heard of, and I think not every car has all of them that bad (e.g. I almost never have the 1 ->2 grind). I'd still say it's a pretty forgiving transmission compared to some things out there.

DaRawkus8 · 02-03-2002, 01:13 AM

I suggest u get a 99 lude, My sis's boyfriend has a 2001 5spd and his tranny is messed up, where the 3rd, and 5th gear pop out. Plus i've heard numerous other complaints on this forum about the 2001 .... But also the dealer said it has something to do with the synchros and they are being ass's about replacing it , so he's having that problem right now.... On the other hand, Go witht the 99 no reported problems to this point correct me if im wrong... In White Thats nice !!!!

Rick Bailey · 02-03-2002, 08:41 AM

i have a 99 lude and have the same grind problems and engaugment

dohcpower v2.0 · 02-03-2002, 11:25 AM

all prelude transmission have grinding. In my 92 S i had the 1-2 grind, problems with reverse and what not. I'm not sure about 3rd and 2nd gens, but i know 4th and 5ths have the same problems.

The only thing i can suggest is change your tranny fluid regularly, cuz that helps a ton. Remember HONDA MTF, not generic stuff!

Chronus114 · 02-03-2002, 11:55 AM

I'll make this short, i have a 2000 SH and I experience most of those problems.......When it's cold! (much like i've experience with all 5 speeds when they are cold).
10 minutes into the ride, ALL of those problems dissapear, and it shifts like silk.
But yes, you do get these "grinds" (they aren't grinds, just a cold tranny, not wanting to cooperate till its warm).
Trading an SS for a 5 speed is never a bad idea.

PREYLUDE · 02-03-2002, 12:17 PM

some of the problems that occur are rare, but there are other cars out there besides preludes....

ImagePree · 02-03-2002, 12:44 PM

just trade it in and PRAY for a good tranny.
but i really think it's how the car is driven... most people have abused their trannies here so i wouldn't really put 100% trust in their words. (relax guys. i'm not saying you are lying, but i'm sure there are human errors involved as well.)

PREYLUDE · 02-03-2002, 01:07 PM

dont buy a prelude...be different, use your own brain....

shiiet happens, i have had two cases where the tranny has gotten messed up on two different ludes. both times it was mechanical failure...factory defect.

Prelude1897 · 02-03-2002, 03:18 PM

Well at least you're thinking smart by wanting a 5spd now.

koreanmafia · 02-04-2002, 10:42 PM

thanx for all the replys

Quote:

But also the dealer said it has something to do with the synchros and they are being ass's about replacing it

but is the synchros fixable in any way?? (jus plannin ahead)

Quote:

dont buy a prelude...be different, use your own brain....

this is one of the main reasons that i decided to buy a prelude instead of any other car... u don't see it as much as other cars, it has a good reputation for performance, and is one of the better lookin cars out there!!

Quote:

Well at least you're thinking smart by wanting a 5spd now.

yea, but unfortunately i had to find out the hard way by getting the ss first (i jus hope everything works out)

thx again