Hey Fellow 'Vic owners...

I'm running into 3 problems with my 1997 Civic Ex 2 Dr. Coupe 5 spd. with 115k and am desperately seeking answers.

1. About 40% of the time when starting off from first gear as I'm engaging the gas and letting off the clutch I hear a single clunking sound. It only happens when I start from a dead stop from first gear and while letting off the clutch. I'm thinking a transmission/motor mount, strut issue, or ???

2. When driving my civic through a slow turn (obviously with the steering wheel not in a straight orientation) and hit a lowered asphalt obstruction (i.e. pothole), the car sinks way down with absolutely no shock support and makes a large 'thud'. It's not only scary thinking something is either loose/broken, but makes for a very uncomfortable ride. Could this be a bearing or cv joint issue?

3. While approaching an on-ramp to the highway, the application of gas to increase speed to correctly yield is executed. With the pedal close to the floor for acceleration, the car starts to shudder pretty well. I'm not sure if this is a alignment issue...or could be in relation to the first question I just posted...(tranny / motor mount).

Any opinions or help would be great. Thanks guys.

Chris

 

1) Check gearbox oil. You may be coming of the clutch too much before giving it gas. May just be a balancing issue or as you said it could be an engine mount.
2)Shocks may be dead and not absobing any bumps. What you are hearing is probably when the spings get fully compressed and the chassis/ shock mounts take the bump. Not likely a CV joint or bearing issue.
3)What gear are you in? You may need to use a lower gear to prevent the car from stalling. Otherwise you may need a tune up, replace sparkplugs etc. Worst case timing may be off. Oh and if A/c is on you may want to turn it off till you have cleared the ramp.

Hope his helps.

 

#2: Sounds like you have a bad strut. i'd get that replaced. I presume you are talking about the front of the car? I think DaRKoN is right on here.

#3: My question is, has it always done this or is this a recent problem? If it is a recent problem, then you might need to give the car a tune up. If it has always done this, then it might be the gear you are in. You might have to lower it to 3rd or 4th. The car rarely speeds up very well in 5th unless you are already going over 60 mph. I normally get on the ramp and stay in 4th or 3rd depending on how hard the turn is on the ramp. In my experience if you are under 45 mph, you need to get out of 5th gear on the ramp. That's 4th gear territory.

 

Thanks for the tips guys...

I wound up replacing the springs and struts on the car...which seemed to help a little bit...but not resolve the original clunky sound. The clunk sound is still there on the driverside of the vehicle, only when I hit an obstruction with the steering wheel turned. I'm starting to really thing its a tie rod end, motor mount, or ball joint issue.

I'm also still feeling a performance hit/acceleration stutter from around 1500-3000 rpms. I'm going to look at the plugs, and check the timing again to see if I can get it just right...

Here is all that I have done to the vehicle:

New Distributor, Rotor button, and Distributor Cap
New NGK Plugs, NGK plug wires
New Battery
New Castrol Oil, Napa Gold Oil Filter
New Napa Gold Air filter
New KYB struts, honda springs

I guess the best things I could do now is replace the fuel filter (not sure how old this one is), replace the PCV valve, clean the VTEC solenoid screen, and maybe run a bottle of fuel injecter cleaner. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks.