How long will my transmission last?

How long will my transmission last? I know that no one really knows exactly for sure, but i'd like some educated guesses.

I’ve searched the forums but nobody’s question matched mine.

I have a 1991 civic dx, 5 speed. The transmission shifts fine but it makes noise. No clunk or pop noises. I get whirring and whining.

The noise is faint when I’m accelerating. But it’s really pronounced when I’m slowing down-- when I’m still in gear but not accelerating. “Noise on the ‘Deccel,’” as someone described it. No noise at all in Nuetral. I only get real noise when deccelerating in 1, 2 and 3rd gear.

But it’s only noisey when I’m going slow--when I get over 33 mph my car sounds wonderful! Fourth and fifth gears sound fine. If I keep accelerating from 1st to 5th it doesn’t sound that bad. The performance is fine.

It started a few years ago. Some XXXhole at the Honda dealership told me that my trans was on it’s way out and that it was expensive to fix.

Thank god I got a second opinion from a guy who put things in perspective,

“It makes noise, but it might go another 20 thousand miles. It’s not woth fixing. Just keep driving it.” This guy was exactly right. Unfortuneatly he retired to Arizona and I can’t go to him for an updated diagnosis.

Anyway it has not gotten a lot worse over the past two years. I almost want to say it got better because I just got used to it.

My civic has no modifications. It’s far from the fastest out there but I’ve really grown to like it. But everyone says putting $ in to a 1991 is not a great idea.

In any event I know I should be setting some money aside. I considered searching for a low miles used transmission in the yards. It’s got some rust and burns a bit of oil.

Any thoughts? All comments welcomed.

my trans has been doing that for as long as i have had it (13k miles) the previous owner said it was like that for about another 10k miles. but mine also grinds and has metallic fluid when it is changed. but as far is it being expensive that is wrong. a used dx trans in great shape will be about 150-200. with the si trans being more. civics a really cheap to mantain because so many were sold so now there are many used parts

my cousin is dealing with a similar problem with an automatic transmission. i hate automatics.

realistically, the worst that could happen is that it'll stop going in the middle of going somewhere and you'll have to tow it. but from what i've heard you shouldn't be in any rush to fix it. who knows. i always worry to death about strange noises.

i think i have the same problem, but mine only does it when i'm in first gear. It starts at about 2000rpm and stops around 3000. Mine sounds like it's coming from my engine though..i could be wrong, but it sounds like a similiar noise that you guys are describing. I also have 290k km's on mine..so i wouldn't be suprised if it were going.

Thanks all for your input,

Duffman,
I'm fortunate enough to know of a few reputable junkyards that will sell me a used manual trans for a good price. As opposed to some shady ones that will try to sell me a trans that's in worse shape than the one i'm replacing. But i understand that the labor is what is expensive. I'm getting figures anywhere from 300 labor (w/out clutch) to 800 labor (clutch included).

Can you tell that a trans is in great shape before installing it and driving it? If so, how?

And if someone knows of a cheaper solution for my trans, please enlighten me.

Justin,
It sounds like you have a slightly different problem. Mine only makes noise when "deccelerating." If i keep accelerating i won't hear it. Best of luck to you, all the same.

yeah Mine makes that noise. When i was learning how to drive stick, when I would slow down after starting (practicing starts and stops...oh joy), I would hear this whine...at first I thought it was from a distant ambulance or police car siren. I think it's almost normal...not sure though.

Thanks allstar,

How long has yours transmission been making that noise?

A few days ago i took this question to the bar. They told me that a clutch and a throwout bearing will die but manual transmissions last forever. :) Certainly not the most comprehensive answer but i hope there's a bit of trutgh to it.

If i knew that the trans wasn't going to poop out tomorrow i'd have some rust taken care of.

Anyone have an idea about the labor price for having a five speed installed on a 91 DX? I'm getting from 350 to 800 (w/new clutch) to "not worth doing on a 91."

All feedback welcome.

Anyone else have this problem with a five speed? It makes a pretty bad whine/whirring noise when decelerating. But it doesn't sound bad accelerating. And it shifts fine.

As long as it shifts that means not worth replacing or worrying about, right?

If this transmission is about to go i would like to start hunting around for another trans at the junkyard.

Does a trans usually start slipping or grinding before giving out completely? I would love to have a lilttle warning.

Sorry for repeating the same questions but it's driving me nuts.

Thanks for reading.

the noise would get alot louder, mine made that noise for about 4 years before the car bottomed out one day and cracked the case...
but other than the noise it was fine.
and i got a used dx tranny for free, so just go's to show how cheap they can get.
if you are really worried about it, start looking for a tranny (try a junkyard) and keep it around till something happens or when ever your ready to put it in.

Well that sounds pretty good. Like I might have a year or two.

A free transmission? Wow, that really is cheap. If i decide to go that route I'd be happy to pay a buck or two for a used trans. But I'd like to know how many miles are on it. I don't want to pay someone 300 dollars or more to put in a trans that's worse than the one i have now.

There's an interesting thread on the BOBISTHEOILGUY fourm. It's about a civic owner rebuilt his trans at 200K. He said his grears were just fine but his bearings were shot.

I called the few reputable junk yards and they didn't have any transmissions. I'm real hesitant to buy a trans from anyone else.

And i read somewhere that i might be able to mask the problem by using a thicker gear oil. I sure don't mind doing that.

you could always hit up ebay...but shipping might be about as much as i would pay to get a dx tranny. it cant hurt to look and if you cant get one local than i would do it that way..

Bump with update.

Last may (2006) I bought a low miles jdm 5 speed trans from jdm engines, Inc outside of new york city. (cheaper than the usdm trannies found in junkyards around me locally)

http://www.jdmenginesinc.com/civic.html

Their ebay rating is excellent for that of a seller of used auto equipemnt.

I picked up the trans myself and drove it home -- no shipping cost. Had a good local mechaninc put it in. The cost was approximately:

jdm transmission 150
zoom clutch 130
labor 270

TOTAL 550

I am VERY happy with this arrangement. I would have done it years ago if i was familiar with the price and reliability of used jdm trannies.

my tranny makes the same noise. It has since I bought the car with 215,000kms on it...still drives just fine now at 302,000...