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Hello - I would like to ask some suggestions on what "others" have expierenced or would suggest.
The wife recently brought her Honda into a dealer only to find out that I apparently have Transmission "Bearing" problems...

The car is a 2005 Manual Honda Civic with 120 k's (very low) - its out of warranty. I had recently called honda canada about this... but found out that the wife didnt do proper maintenance when recomended - a simple "E" service or transmission oil change would have helped our case... but... chit happens.

Anyways - this noise from what I remember has been happening for well over a year... I would have never realized there was a problem until I was told by the Honda Dealership...

My questions are:

1) Honda told me they would rebuild this... aprrox $1000.00 labor and approx $600.00 in costs - Is this the correct method!? Rebuild vs buying new or used!? If so why!?

2) Are the costs correct!? (mechanics are not my area of specialty - hence why the wife and I are having this problem today)

3) Can I add to the problem if I choose to continue to drive the Civic until it actually breaks down!?? Or would it be OK to wait - let it break down - then get it fixed!??

4) Can any one recommend taking this to "another shop" if so - where... Mr Transmission - AAMCO!?

I love this car... and because I dont want to give up on it... (bought new - low km's - dont want to buy someone elses problem - my 8th honda lifetime etc etc) - I NEED YOUR ADVICE please!!
Your expertise goes a long way with us and your expierences.

BTW - in case there are some members out there with "shop advice" I live in Waterloo, Ontario - there are 3 dealerships nearby (Honda Dealers... is one dealership better then others to take it to!??) Is there a shop that any one could reccomend!?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Appreciate it.

 
Rep Power: 215

This is possible with a few tools some oil and know-how....

So you're saying there was a noise, and you didn't think to look into it? What is the noise? Judging by the mech saying it's a bearing I am assuming it's a whistling noise or whirring noise...
There are a couple bearings that sometimes have to get replaced...A "throw-out"bearing and the shaft support bearing that's in the flywheel...There is one other but I can not remember the name of it...not knowing your abilities with mechanics or tool source, I don't know if this is a job you can take....


3) YES AND YOU WILL PAY MORE MONEY!!!

 
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Hello there!

Generally the dealership is not your most cost efficient place to have repairs done to your car. I would get 3 quotes from independent mechanics before I believed that price. Throw out bearing is inside your clutch/transmission so basically a good portion of the front of the car has to be taken apart and transmission separated from the engine to do the work which is why you were quoted so much $$$ for the job. Looks like Honda is estimating 10 hours labour and I don't know what the $600 in parts would be but you would hope it would be at least new clutch/flywheel and bearings for the kind of money.

My example would be that my car needed a new timing belt when I bought it. My local Honda dealer wanted $900 to do that job and my local mechanic wanted $150 cash (no tax).

Talk to people you know who drive Hondas and ask them who their mechanic is and if he/she is good.

good luck!

BTW - your throw out bearing goes bad from things like keeping your foot down on the clutch while waiting for traffic lights to change.

 
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Thanks for your advice.... im starting to somewhat second guess myself if i am the cause of the problem... believe it or not... i have only been driving stick for a short period of time.... the wife has always driven stick (insert joke here) - its quite possible if its a throw out bearing that ive been the cause of that...

I really do appreciate your time and insight sir!

 
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a whirring noise may best describe this noise.... not very loud but seems to be heard more in fist and second gear.... I am an automatic driver of honda crv... my 2004 honda has over 300k's now and i decided cause i do mainly 50k a year in driving.... i better get this civic some km love!! so i started driving the civic for the last year and heard this noise just as long... not until a month ago was this brought to my attention... now it bugs the shyte outta me - cause the car is mint... other then this problem.


As for working with my hands...that is so not me... my skills are more of pencil pushing - so that is out of my area.


Thanks very much as well for your information...

I appreciate it...

If there are any members out there in the London - Hamilton area that may have a quality mechanic - as a reasonable rate... could you please PM me!!! That would be greatly appreciated!
Regards

 
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I should have guessed with how long your posts were...

 
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Never looked at it that way! hahaha

Classic.

 
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Does the noise go away when you push in the clutch pedal? If you pull up next to a wall and roll down the window you should be able to hear it at idle, just push the clutch in and out and listen.

Mine has been making the same kinda noise as yours in gears 1-3 and I'm 99% sure its the input-shaft bearing, very common problem in Honda MT's. It will get louder and louder over time but may last years before it gets really loud and needs replaced. I can only hear mine with the radio off and windows down so I just keep the radio on and don't worry about it. When it gets loud/leaking trans/trouble shifting it needs to be replaced.

The trans will need to be taken apart but a full rebuild isn't required. Considering the trans only has 120km on it I'd just replace the main-shaft and maybe the counter-shaft bearings and be done. It will still be at least $1200 with a new clutch, you'd have to call around.

 
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Funny you should mention this...

This is probably the best I can describe the noise...
1) not very loud or bothersome - especially with radio on... in fact after I realized there was a problem... I had several friends in the car... they did not realize there was a problem until I told them my findings... then they said "oh ya, it does sound funny"

2) Hence why i asked... will it be ok to drive!? Not really knowing the root of the problem - and this noise not getting any louder - the main question was "Fix it Now" or "Wait" - A member mentioned it could cost more if I waited... but really how much more... worst case scenario is...??? Seems like best case scenario will be around $1200.00

THanks for your input as well!

 
Rep Power: 193

Yeah I didn't hear mine until one day I had the radio off (rare for me) and noticed it, that was about 15,000 miles ago and it's only gotten slightly louder. I'd change the trans fluid with Honda MTF if you haven't done so recently, it may help the bearing last a little longer.

Here's how one sounds when it's in need of replacement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLFV4GnZbRo

The car is at idle and it's roaring, if you listen carefully the noise is not consistent which means the plastic that keeps the bearings separated (the cause of the problem) has totally failed and the ball bearings end up packing together and the bearing starts to wobble.

It's ok to drive on just listen to it every now and then. You need to get it replaced when it gets very loud/inconsistent/leaking trans fluid from the bellhousing/trouble shifting.

 
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oh ya! I seem to be in really good shape then! I did get a MTF change - as mentioned i will only get a little "whirring" noise when i accelerate in gears 1-3 - no probs in reverse... and no sounds when the clutch is pushed in or its in idle...
This is why i was concerned of "should I" or "shouldn't I" get this problem fixed immediately!? Id prefer to wait if its not serious... cause you never know if the car gets in an accident or something!? (this has happened in the past where we put in 1000.00 work and the next day - write the car off - FFS)

thanks for the you tube video as well... much appreciated...

So from what I gather... the problem as i described is called a "Throw out" bearing... I know its a bearing... but dont want to be "hosed" when taking it to a mechanic...

I was looking on the forum for another thread possibly relating to this... couldn't find one... i was more interested in updating my "grease monkey" (if that is the proper terminology) status and trying to also know when changing a bearing - should i possibly have other things changed??? example - if i wait a bit - can i save money by getting the bearing changed and i believe the water pump and timing belt gets changed at 160,000.... Does / Will that kill two birds with one stone!?
sorry for going a bit off topic... curious.

 
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Considering the water pump and timing belt are on the opposite side of the engine as the tranny, it wouldn't really matter....They would probably charge you the 10 hours for the bearings and then another few hours for the other stuff...it's 2 different processes...now if you wanted too you could change your clutch while they are in there...stage 2 FTW!!!

 
Rep Power: 193

It's an input-shaft bearing, not the throw-out bearing. The throw out bearing would make noise with the clutch disengaged (pedal in) and no noise with the pedal out. If you do a search you'll see how common it is in Honda's, mostly Civic's.

I have the same problem as you and I'm waiting to fix mine until the clutch goes or the bearing gets really loud at idle, or I have the other symptoms I stated above.

It is a serious problem and if the bearing fails and locks up it'll prob destroy the trans not to mention locking up the front wheels which could cause an accident/break axles/etc. This isn't likely to happen until the bearing reaches the LOUD howling stage. I've heard a couple bad ones and it's unreal how loud they get towards the end.

I've done a ton of research on this issue and your safe to drive just keep an eye/ear on it. There are people who have driven for years with a noisy ISB.

 
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Here's a clip of input shaft bearing noise. A couple interesting comments underneath as well.


[autostream]http://autostream.com/ibcivicforums/?page_type=firebirdplayerthumbnail&framepage=717&t ransactionid=1325898800-2467200195&posted_by=Stock_autoblankauto_99_www.ci vicforums.com&youtube_video_id=XOR4CiYJ2sw[/autostream]



here's the link to diagrams of it

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/2...placement.html

 
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If its an input shaft bearing (Noise goes away with clutch pushed in) then depending upon how loud it is you can probably get away with it until you need a new clutch. Ultimately its your call, personally I would leave it alone if it wasnt that loud and just wait till its time to replace your clucth.

 
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I've just replaced my input shaft bearing, took about 4 days, but still waiting for new parts to put it back together. It's a lot of work for someone without any mechanical experience (like me) but saved a lot of money. In total, parts were around 50 pounds for me (in UK) but spent about 150 pounds on tools. I've been quoted 530 pounds from a small garage down my road, and I suspect prices should be similar in US, at small garages.

When I took the bearing out I noticed small dents and particles on the ***** of the bearing, and when you turn the bearing it makes a scraping noise and sometimes would resist spinning at some points. I don't think its a problem with the bearing itself, but more of a problem with contaminants in the transmission, maybe caused by the oil seal at the input shaft side

I hope this was the cause of the noise, I also replaced the clutch release bearing because I noticed theres a scraping noise coming from that as well. I will report back in a few days to see if the problem is fixed when i put it back together.

 
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Thanks kindly - I have read your other threads with input on this!

 
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This is a wonderful thread put together by you members... basically sums up everything in the world of a "Input Shaft Bearing"

I have decided to wait a wee bit and let the noise get a little louder... thus far my best quote was $1200.00 - but I really havnt negotiated that much... just give me a price for labor and parts... so If I get what I need done for $1000.00 - for someone like myself - thats a great deal... better then buying another car IMO - this car has a shyte load of life in it still...

Thanks to all who contributed. This forum is great and full of friendly members!

Cheers

 
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Got a quote for $670.00 for labour at a local garage! Way better then the $950.00 honda was asking... Also the guy was talking about "Machining the Fly Wheel" or something with that cost...

I was quoted $500.00 for genuine honda parts for "clutch"

or

I could go after market for $266.00...

Thoughts on Genuine or Aftermarket for the clutch when I decide to do this!? Also the mechanic mentioned he would really inspect the clutch - he told me that if he felt there was 50% or more left in it... he would not reccoment changing it... but that was totally my option.

 
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I've finished putting my car back together, and the bearing sound is now gone! But got a new knocking noise from my suspension :hit head:

Aftermarket clutches can be as good as original, it depends on the brand. Google the brand to find reviews and where it is manufactured, if its half the price it's definitely worth considering. Honda parts are generally more expensive but its mainly down to the label on the packaging.

Yes, when you replace a clutch it's best to machine the fly wheel, which means making it perfectly flat to sit the new clutch onto.