Rep Power: 344

What is clutch slip guys?

Whenever I start moving from a standstill, or shift to second and ease in on the gas, I get this quick 1.5 second high pitched grinding noise around the time when my foot is almost done releasing the clutch to go full into 1st or 2nd gear (when my clutch foot is about 1/4 of way to releasing the pedal). What is that? I've only had my car for 9 months and I don't drive it hard either. I tried shifting and easing into gear really slowly and keeping my rpms at around 2500. And nothing seems to work. THe only thing that works is if i keep my foot partially on the gas in between shifts so that there is absolutely no slowdown while i shift up.

THanks....

 
Rep Power: 332

that doesnt really sound like the clutch...perhaps its a synchronizer? they usually go bad from slamming..but they can turn out to be defective sometimes..i'd check the transmission fluid..if color and consistency is normal...ask around. if not...you know what you have to do...take it to the dealer..

 
Rep Power: 382

sounds like a syncro problem, How hard are you when you shift?

 
Rep Power: 344

I'm not hard at all. The hardest I've gone when shifting on a regular basis is 4000 rpms. Even when i do 2500 RPMs I get that noise.

So it's the syncro? What is a syncro exactly? And how would the dealership fix it? And would there be any way that they can *** with my car? I've heard horror stories of the dealership doing sloppy work on fix it jobs.

 
Rep Power: 344

I usually shift around 3000 rpms

 
Rep Power: 332

the synchronizers bring the gears up to speed before they are engaged...i dont know how they work exactly..but if they dont do their job then its like having the gear go from a complete stand still to 1000's of rpms in a matter of milli-seconds...you tell me what could go wrong in that situation..lol

 
Rep Power: 382

RPM's arnt the issue, its how fast do you slam it in to gear? Syncros can only work so fast.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have to go to work right now, When I get home i'll explain how the mystery box known as the transmission works... though i've done it a few times before... if you can't wait, you could go to www.howstuffworks.com and check there... otherwise... i'll be home around 7 PST...

 
Rep Power: 344

uh i know how a transmission works. just not a syncro.

and even if i put it into gear with the slowest lead foot for my clutch foot, it still makes the noise.

 
Rep Power: 382

well if the syncros are blown then no matter what it will grind. I'd take it to the dealership and have them check it out.

 
Rep Power: 0

It explains how syncro's work on that website as well... ANYWAY, a synchro is typically a cone like shape that is attached to the gear, and on the gear selector fork there's a recessed indent thing that matches the shape of the cone, so, when they get close, they match speeds, similar to how your clutch matches speed with your flywheel. Now we all know how *good* doing a clutch drop is, so the same thing happens to your synchro's, when you slam it into 2nd gear going from like 3rd or 4th, those sycnhro's have to speed it up VERY quickly, and as they get more worn they don't grab as well. so then waht you're hearing is the dog teeth of the gear selector fork not meshing with the dog teeth on the gear your trying to go into. Does it make the noise when you're sitting at a standstill with the clutch pressed in?

 
Rep Power: 344

it only makes the noise some days.... when my foot is in the process of doing the last 1/4 motion of releasing the clutch.

If i bring it in to the dealership and they see I have a lip kit, will that go on their big public record of automobile negativity?

 
Rep Power: 0

If your synchro's are making noise when you let out the clutch, then something else non-synchro' related is wrong. My clutch pedal sqeeks... there's no way for your synchro's to make a grinding noise, unless you're chaning gears. Now is the noise made when you let the clutch out or change gears. If it's when the clutch is being let out, it's something with your drive train, if it's when you shift gears, it's your synchro's, now if you have a lip kit, legally, that shouldn't matter since a Lip kit can't destroy synchro's.

 
Rep Power: 344

it'll make the noise as i'm lifting my foot off the pedal.

not always tho. perhaps it's my driving style? My friend tried driving my car and it didn't happen to him.

 
Rep Power: 310

heo yeo, i drove that kitted out siccc civic last night....no problems...i think armieo is a lil paranoid, been sniffing too much fumes or something.

 
Rep Power: 0

Dont worry man, when i had my car, I always thought the 2nd gear syncro was messed up bc it would grind sometimes. Try driving different. After some time, took me a year, I got used to the way the tranny wants to work and changed my driving style. Try shifting with a pause. Give it gas in 1st, and before you shift pause w/o gas and then shift (only a sec) and you will see a dif in 1st to second--at least i did. You need to become part of the tranny. The tranny is your... I am an idiot

 
Rep Power: 344

that was the most helpful post out of all! Thanks bro.

 
Rep Power: 0

no problem, tell me how your problem goes. I just am a little confused that it grinds and makes a noise while you are in gear and releasing the clutch. You could just need some grease on the pedal, or on that tension springs (i forgot their name but they are the part that controls the releasing spring of the clutch ie why your clutch goes back up.)

 
Rep Power: 310

i think the problem is that you drive like a grandma, you need to drive it like you stole it

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey armieo your problem is the bearings inside the gearbox (especially the high gear shaft bearing) that's why you hear that noise between shifts and also you may find going from 1st to 2nd a little bit difficult that usual.
Read up my post on this problem (just do a search for gearbox problems and you'll see what I did to solve my prob)

good luck

 
Rep Power: 0

don't worry it isn't that expensive!