Hello all. Just got a 01 EX with 133K. No history on the manual transmission fluid change so I'll go Honda or Redline MTL in the next few days.

However, is there a stock noise associated with these transmissions? The noise is most prevalent through 1st and 2nd, and barely audible in 3rd, not audible after that. It's hard to describe. Almost like a whine but with a rotating/take-off sound to it. It not super loud, just present and increases accordingly with rpm but then drops off after. No other noises detectable, shifts great.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

The noise is primarily when in first gear, sounds like a cat purring but with a whine to it. Someone here has to be able to comment on whether or not their manual Civic makes noise...

 

My tranny has been making that same noise in 1st and 2nd for about 10k miles now, it hasn't gotten any worse. From what I've read it's the beginning signs of the input shaft bearing going bad, a VERY common problem for Honda manual trannies.

If it is the input-shaft bearing eventually it will start making noise whenever the clutch is out, even when you idle in neutral, that's when you need to get it fixed. No telling how long it will be until that happens.

Go with Honda MTF, it's the best for our cars from what everyone says. Don't expect it to make the sound go away though.

 

Ah, I did read a bunch of threads about the ISB, saw it's around a $1000 fix (maybe $800 for labor and $130 clutch/$30 ISB). Well, it's not making any noise with the clutch out idling in neutral. Hopefully it keeps on chugging along.

Yeah, haha, I figured the MTF needed to be done and there might be a .1% of fixing this issue, oh well.

Thank you for your response.

 

Just put a seal in mine. I looked for a used trans but had trouble finding an exact match. I finally just quit whining and tore it apart.

Wasn't nearly as bad as I expected (same procedure for ISB replacement)

 

Yeah I plan on changing my ISB when my clutch calls it quits.

I'm gonna do the clutch myself but not sure about tearing into the tranny. I may just pull the tranny and take it to a shop and tell em to replace the ISB, wouldn't be too much I dont think.

 

I heard mine for the first time w/out the car in gear tonight.

On a cold start there was the same noise I hear in 1st and 2nd, pushed in the clutch and it went away. I cannot hear it under 1k rpms.

Try to bring your rpm's up to 1500-2k and push the clutch in and out. Helps if your in a garage or next to a wall. If it makes no noise it may be in the stage mine was in for the past few months.