1991 Honda Accord Need help Diagnosing Cluch Problem.

SMOKEY_B_4207247

MEMBER
1991 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
190,000 MILES

I have a 92 Honda Accord 4clynder and cannot get it to go into any gear. I have been driving it for a few months now and it would not go into 3rd or 4th gear. When I try to put it into 3rd and 4th it would make a grinding sound but would not go into gear. Also at times when i try to put it into 1st, 2nd, and 5th I have to force the shifter into gear. reacently it quit going into all gear but it does not grind when you try to put it in gear. When I push the clutch peddle the 1st half way down it is lose and has no pressure until it gets to the bottem half of the peadle. Also when it did go into 1st, 2nd, and 5th gear I could take the shifter and move it all around but it would stay in gear. I have had seveeral people look at it. 1 says needs new trans. But how can that be if it still pulls, and another says maybe a linkage, and another says pressure plate. Please help me so I don't be a sucker to some mechanic that is just trying to rip me off. You knowledgeable oppinion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a million Brian King.

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the donation.

From your description, there could be 3 different problem.

1. Gear shift linkages. Excessive wear of the linkages has resulted in the gear lever having excessive free movement when gear is engaged.

2. Clutch system. Could be hydraulics or the clutch has failed.
Hydraulic system.
Check the clutch fluids level. If level is low, top up and bleed is possible. If not, pump the pedal a few times each time releasing it slowly. If pedal height increases, try engaging gears again.
Check the clutch push rod free travel. Excessive free travel would not allow the clutch master cylinder to provide sufficient travel of the slave cylinder.

Clutch system.
Do not start vehicle. Try engaging through the gears. Repeat a few times, is it easy to engage? If yes, the linkage is not the cause though it may have excessive free travel.

Apply brakes, handbrake and engage 1st gear.
Start engine, does the engine try to pull the vehicle as if the clutch is partially released?
If no, shift to neutral without releasing the clutch pedal. Shift into any gears, are you able to shift?

Inability to shift into 3rd or 4th.
The above two items could cause this as well as a bad trans. It could be the synchroniser rings are bad or it could be due to the wrong gear oil used. A high viscosity oil would cause the problem as Honda recommends only low viscosity gear oil.

Test the hydraulics first, that can be the root cause of all.