Could use some advice for my 92 - Honda Prelude Forum

Shepard09 · 01-26-2011, 03:33 AM

Hey PO

I recently got my hands on a 92 Prelude S with an h23 swap on the M2L5 transmission. So my immediate interest is in the transmission - has a major issue. 3rd gear doesn't engage 9/10 times, and the shifter is loose making it a very small inconvenience with the other gears (less noticeable as I've been driving it longer now, but still there). I can get 3rd to engage most times when the engine/transmission are still cool after starting the car, and some other times when i place the stick in 3rd and play with the rpm's it'll catch, it never comes out of gear while giving it gas but as when I let off once or twice once I get it in. So, on this matter I was just wondering if anyone might be able to help me figure out what might cause that, or if I should just pull it out and replace it - and if I should just replace it, is there a tranmission I should consider using besides another M2L5?

Aside from getting that fixed I have put some thought into getting an H22 vtec head (h22a4?) to replace the H23 head and just wondering if that would be a beneficial idea as the h23 is compression testing at 193bhp, according to the seller who claims to have modified the internals. I have yet to confirm it but am trying get some receipts out of the guy. Also, I figured if I'm getting a new head for it, might as well check out valve trains and cam gears as well - any suggestions?

SgtMason · 03-13-2011, 02:11 PM

Your issue with the transmission could be the clutch going out...you'll know pretty soon. If you take that to a shop it shouldnt be more than a few hundred. DO NOT REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANNY BEFORE YOU FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. Now, for the mods to the internals. What I did (of course I had another car to get me around) was I took the engine apart, replaced valves and seals, and dropped in new cams and gears while I had it apart. I did everything at once and it only took me a week. If you don't know what you are doing I would either find someone that can help you or have a shop do it.

drummerboy · 03-13-2011, 04:19 PM

yeah sounds like the clutch. If its not engaging, you can match the speed of the motor with the speed of the transmission while driving (rev match), which is basically what you're doing by "playing with the rpms".

with swapping to an h22 head on h23 block, you have to wire up vtec and a knock sensor. If you feel like you can do that, go for it. Also, I believe you have to plug a service hole in the block to get proper oil flow.

Clutch replacement is a pretty straight forward process:

Remove everything in the way of the transmission.
Remove everything attached to the transmission.
unbolt tranny from the motor.
Pull it out the bottom.
Line up clutch and pressure plate.
Bolt down pressure plate.
Torque everything to spec.
Reinstall tranny and accessories.

Shepard09 · 03-14-2011, 10:20 AM

The clutch works fine in every other gear. I've talked around about it and was told that it seems most likely that the sycros are going for 3rd, and now 5th. And that the problem was probably caused by putting the M2L5 where an M2S4 should be considering my Prelude S has the Si H23A1.

Transmission doesn't much matter anymore regardless as I've found a '93 Prelude SR with 218k kilometers and a bad main bearing. So, I'm getting that and swapping my H23 with the one thats in it. Which will save me tons of issues given that my current 'lude developed an electrical short thanks to a fried circuit in the left tail light. That, and the body has 240k miles on it so it's practically trash to begin with.