Hi, I'm new to this forum and I searched around for a topic like this and didn't find it. If there is one, please link.

I just bought my first Honda, a 1997 Civic DX Coupe 5spd. I used to have a 1987 Toyota Corolla 5spd, and one of the first things I noticed when I test drove the Civic was the relative looseness of the shift ****. The owner, who had owned other Hondas before then, told me that every shift **** had felt similar, and so he believed Honda just makes them that way. My trusted mechanic who checked out the car didn't mention anything about the shift **** or even the transmission (he gave the car a clean bill of health).

Is the loose shift **** normal, or is there something wrong with my Civic that I need to get tightened up?

 

Give some more details about the ****, like where exactly is it loose? Is it the stock shift ****? If not where did you get it, what kind?

 

Oops, I should clarify: it's not the "****" (as in, the round piece at the top) per se, but the whole stick that feels loose. It's almost like the gearbox feels loose underneath, like it's free-floating somehow. It doesn't make any weird noises, it shifts fine, etc. Remember, this might feel strange to me because I'm new to Hondas, so somebody accustomed to Hondas might consider this normal, like the guy I bought the car from did. I'm just trying to find out if it actually IS normal, or if I should take it back to the mechanic.

 

It is a little loose stock but it shouldn't be excessive. If it is excessive, the solution is to replace parts 7, 10, 23, 11, 5, 4, 16, and 14 on this diagram


buy here: http://www.hondapartsdeals.com/hpa_p...onGroupID=1645

I recommend that instead of buying OEM for parts 18 and 14, you buy the Energy Suspension polyurethane bushing set (they help to reduce the looseness of the shifter). It's about $13 or so on eBay. I recommend buying the black version and not the red, because the black ones contain graphite and last longer. They are the same price. Energy Suspension part #16.1102G

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ENERG...#ht_1334wt_941

 

^ damn lol

 

Thanks, trustdestruction. The next question is, how loose is too loose? Can it be considered "excessively loose" even if I have no trouble shifting?

 

I'd consider it OK as long as you can shift to all the gears. Excessive wear of part #10 can let the shift lever fall through the floor unexpectedly, of course making the car impossible to drive.

 

yeah I've noticed that most Hondas seem a little loose/floppy feeling. (esp when I've just driven the shop's Jetta 5speed). My car is the same year and it does feel "loose", although I know some of my bushings (esp part #14 in the diagram) are worn