1996 Honda Civic - Strange Transmission Symptoms - Revs high, slow to accelerate

My civic has been treating me great until about six months ago. About
that time it started with this strange grumbly whining sound whenever
it was in gear and driving, mostly when accelerating. About a month
ago, I noticed that I had a very small range of accelerator-pedal
motion in which I could accelerate. If I pushed the pedal past that,
the engine just revved like it would if the clutch pedal were
depressed. About that time I noticed that the grumbly whining sound
went away. Since then, on only one occasion, the grumbly sound
returned and my acceleration returned to normal.

So, basically, it takes me about 20 seconds to get to 60mph from zero,
and I have a hard time getting much past 70mph on the highway. The
engine is running fine, the issue is that it seems that not much power
is getting to the wheels. Can anybody help me?

Thanks,

Nate

Oops, I should also mention that it has 168k and when I first got it I
had a "roller bearing" replaced in the transmission. It made a
bad-bearing noise when the clutch was depressed.

wrote:
> My civic has been treating me great until about six months ago. About
> that time it started with this strange grumbly whining sound whenever
> it was in gear and driving, mostly when accelerating. About a month
> ago, I noticed that I had a very small range of accelerator-pedal
> motion in which I could accelerate. If I pushed the pedal past that,
> the engine just revved like it would if the clutch pedal were
> depressed. About that time I noticed that the grumbly whining sound
> went away. Since then, on only one occasion, the grumbly sound
> returned and my acceleration returned to normal.
>
> So, basically, it takes me about 20 seconds to get to 60mph from zero,
> and I have a hard time getting much past 70mph on the highway. The
> engine is running fine, the issue is that it seems that not much power
> is getting to the wheels. Can anybody help me?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nate

That would be the clutch throw out bearing which is located outside the
transmission in the bell housing.

Bad bearings will sound when the clutch is fully engaged.

JT




" wrote:
>
> Oops, I should also mention that it has 168k and when I first got it I
> had a "roller bearing" replaced in the transmission. It made a
> bad-bearing noise when the clutch was depressed.
>
> wrote:
> > My civic has been treating me great until about six months ago. About
> > that time it started with this strange grumbly whining sound whenever
> > it was in gear and driving, mostly when accelerating. About a month
> > ago, I noticed that I had a very small range of accelerator-pedal
> > motion in which I could accelerate. If I pushed the pedal past that,
> > the engine just revved like it would if the clutch pedal were
> > depressed. About that time I noticed that the grumbly whining sound
> > went away. Since then, on only one occasion, the grumbly sound
> > returned and my acceleration returned to normal.
> >
> > So, basically, it takes me about 20 seconds to get to 60mph from zero,
> > and I have a hard time getting much past 70mph on the highway. The
> > engine is running fine, the issue is that it seems that not much power
> > is getting to the wheels. Can anybody help me?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Nate

wrote:
> Oops, I should also mention that it has 168k and when I first got it I
> had a "roller bearing" replaced in the transmission. It made a
> bad-bearing noise when the clutch was depressed.
>
> wrote:
> > My civic has been treating me great until about six months ago. About
> > that time it started with this strange grumbly whining sound whenever
> > it was in gear and driving, mostly when accelerating. About a month
> > ago, I noticed that I had a very small range of accelerator-pedal
> > motion in which I could accelerate. If I pushed the pedal past that,
> > the engine just revved like it would if the clutch pedal were
> > depressed. About that time I noticed that the grumbly whining sound
> > went away. Since then, on only one occasion, the grumbly sound
> > returned and my acceleration returned to normal.
> >
> > So, basically, it takes me about 20 seconds to get to 60mph from zero,
> > and I have a hard time getting much past 70mph on the highway. The
> > engine is running fine, the issue is that it seems that not much power
> > is getting to the wheels. Can anybody help me?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Nate

Nate,

if the engine is spinning, but the wheels aren't keeping pace, it
sounds like the clutch is slipping. there are lots of little tests to
see if the clutch is spinning

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...&btnG=Se arch

Dave

Yep, that's what it is. Thanks guys for your help!

Here comes a $500 mechanic bill...


Zephyr wrote:
> wrote:
> > Oops, I should also mention that it has 168k and when I first got it I
> > had a "roller bearing" replaced in the transmission. It made a
> > bad-bearing noise when the clutch was depressed.
> >
> > wrote:
> > > My civic has been treating me great until about six months ago. About
> > > that time it started with this strange grumbly whining sound whenever
> > > it was in gear and driving, mostly when accelerating. About a month
> > > ago, I noticed that I had a very small range of accelerator-pedal
> > > motion in which I could accelerate. If I pushed the pedal past that,
> > > the engine just revved like it would if the clutch pedal were
> > > depressed. About that time I noticed that the grumbly whining sound
> > > went away. Since then, on only one occasion, the grumbly sound
> > > returned and my acceleration returned to normal.
> > >
> > > So, basically, it takes me about 20 seconds to get to 60mph from zero,
> > > and I have a hard time getting much past 70mph on the highway. The
> > > engine is running fine, the issue is that it seems that not much power
> > > is getting to the wheels. Can anybody help me?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Nate
>
> Nate,
>
> if the engine is spinning, but the wheels aren't keeping pace, it
> sounds like the clutch is slipping. there are lots of little tests to
> see if the clutch is spinning
>
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...&btnG=Se arch
>
> Dave