Rep Power: 0

hey guys, so i have a problem with my 3rd gear. When i'm driving around normally 3rd gear works fine with no problems, it goes in and out fine. however when im pushing it and i'm changing into 3rd lets say at 6500 rpm its really hard to get it into gear and i have to push on it quite hard to get it in. however today i was coming home from work and when i went to try it again, it grinded when i tried to put it in 3rd. however still when i'm just crusing around in goes in and out of 3rd no problems. the car currently has 101k miles. so i'm thinking either the clutch or the syncro for 3rd gear is going bad...any thoughts guys would be much appreciated!

 
Rep Power: 188

Year make model of car?

fluid levels good??

 
Rep Power: 0

2003 civic si, and just changed the fluid to redline MTF, and it was doing it before i changed the fluid

 
Rep Power: 517

SOUNDS like the blocker ring (the brass ring, part of the hub and synchro set) is either worn out or broken. One would need to do a complete teardown to find out.

Honda has an improved part for this, this is copy and paste from the service information I found: Honda Service News, Nov 2004

"Are owners of M/T-equipped ’01–05 Civics or
’03–04 Civic Hybrids complaining of gear grinding
when shifting from 2nd to 3rd or from 4th to 3rd?
A new carbon-coated synchronizer 3rd gear set
from Honda parts stock is just what the doctor
ordered. Ask for P/N 23444-PLW-315,"

Not from a Honda, but a ring example:


(That person should be wearing blue gloves...)


Cracked/broken ring:

 
Rep Power: 0

I doubt that theres broken parts in there, because like i said, when i'm driving normally its fine and there is no grinding at all. but yea, i was afraid of it being a syncro/blocking ring. and it even explains to more that you provided that quote from honda service news. sounds like its that for me, i hardly ever downshift so next time i drive i'm going to try downshifting from 4th to 3rd. i'm guessing because it doesn't grind when i'm driving normally that its not too worn down but it definitely is at least a little bit for it to be so hard to get into gear. by chance, any clue on how much it would cost to get the tranmission rebuild with the transmission already out? i could take the tranny out myself but i don't want to rebuild it lol

 
Rep Power: 517

No clue. Call your local and ask BEFORE you start anything. You might check with transmission shops too.
Research your choices thoroughly. I wouldn't trust just any flunky to do any trans work.


Good chance they won't provide any warranty on the job either, since they didn't diagnose it or do 100% of the work. I know I wouldn't want to because I can't control the work YOU do.