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Hello everyone. I just picked up a 5 speed 02 Civic EX with 146,000 miles.

I'm a rookie when it comes to manual transmissions as I learned to drive stick about 3 months ago so I'm not sure if this is normal or not. But when I rev to lets say 2500 RPM in 1st gear and let go of the gas I realize the car slows down very quickly and there seems to be a noise that goes along with it (like if there is a lot of friction slowing the car). It also happens when doing the same in 2nd gear but not as bad and as I go up the gears it pretty much goes away (the noise and the amount of friction slowing the car down).

So my question is if this is normal? Are the first few gears in a manual trans not as efficient as the higher gears?

Might be a dumb question but just trying to gain some knowledge here. And just to provided more info, the trans does not give me any problems (no popping or anything else) and I just had the trans fluid changed with Honda MTF. The problem (if it is a problem) I described has been the same before and after I changed the trans fluid.

Thanks

 
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Totally normal, depending on what the noise sounds like. The first gear is much smaller than the second gear, which is smaller than the third etc. Which happens to make them very touchy compared to the other gears. It has nothing to do with efficiency. Car gears work much like bicycle gears, the smaller the gear the less effort it takes the get the car moving, however the pace of the gear is quickly outrun and it becomes inefficient. The faster the engine spins, the more bog you will feel in gear when you release the gas pedal.

That being said, never downshift into first.

 
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Is it making any grinding/whining sounds with the clutch pedal out and deceleration taking place? If so, it may be Input Shaft Bearing.... literally just replaced mine because of this.

 
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Yea we need a description of the noise

 
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where do u live in cali...ill just come n teach you how to drive a manual properly...just buy me a beer.

 
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Thanks for the replies. I uploaded a short video on the noise. It's not the greatest quality since I recorded using my phone but it might help.

http://youtu.be/p742Hkmrxkk

Haha thanks sl33py . I don't think it's me not driving it right but it could be. I'm in LA area by the way.

 
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Cant get anything out of that video myself.

 
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i was just teasing you

im in the OC area. good to see a fellow socal member.

 
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Yeah the quality is pretty bad but thanks for helping out. But in regards to the noise, it does sound somewhat like grinding. And as I said it is only when in 1st gear and letting go of the accel pedal and it does the same thing but not as bad when in 2nd. Does not do it in the rest of the gears.

If it is the input shaft bearing wouldn't it be heard regardless of whichever gear I was in? Or by some chance could it be something else like the clutch and flywheel? It does have 146,000 miles and the OEM clutch it came with. I just purchased it so I don't know how well it was treated by the previous owner.

Thanks a lot for helping me out guys.

 
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Thanks, same here man

 
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From what I can hear your clutch springs may be a little worn. But nothing too serious.

Has the clucth been changed? You will probably wear the clucth before the springs explode.

I also heard a little clutch chatter, perhaps your letting off the clutch too quick without giving it enough gas?

 
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Yeah the clutch hasn't been changed. it has 146000 with the original clutch. And that chatter seems to happen when the car is cold more than other times but I feel there might be some hot spots on the Flywheel

 
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Could be that too. I think your best bet is to just wait till the clutch wears and change it.

 
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I couldn't get anything out of the video, but not necessarily on the input shaft bearing. I didnt get the sound in 3-5th gear until it was completely gone pretty much. It was gradual at first and then just got a lot worse and started doing it in every gear.

 
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So guys I have similar problem with my 99 civic HX. Unlike the original poster, mi hear very loud grinding noise on 3rd gear and occasionally on 1st or 2nd, never on 4th or 5th. Mostly happens when i let off the gas. So my question is, do i have bad syncros? clutch problems maybe? I am really frustrated as to should i sell my car because i dont want to spend a whole lot

Also the gear grinding noise goes away when the car is warm. (but still happens on 3rs gear)

Please help !!!!!