Hello people,

I purchased a used 99 Civic LX manual transmission from a fellow. It seems like it's in decent shape, but I'm noticing a few things with the Stick Shift and Idle.

The idle is a little rough or maybe just shaky, but maybe a tune-up will fix it, but where I really notice it is in the stick shift. If I hold the stick shift at idle I can really feel it vibrate. Further, when I accelerate or decelerate, if I have my hand on the shifter I can actually feel the whole shifter moving back from the force of acceleration or forward from the force of deceleration. It's nice and tight in it's gear, its just that the whole thing kind of moves forward or back according to the accel/deccel force on it.

Any ideas? Could that and the shaking at idle and the shifter movement is due to a bad mount of some sort or something else?

 

First off, Have you owned a Manual trans 4-cylinder before?

If it is really bad, It could be motor mount(s) Also a tune up may help. Your timing could be slightly off, or you could have a cylinder "misfiring" Etc...

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have had a few manuals. My other current car is a manual as well.

I'm not sure whether or not to categorize it as "really bad." I've never experienced this before and it may be nothing to worry about, but it seems like something is loose there.

How would I check motor mount or cylinder misfire myself..can it be done without tools?

 

In a 1999, You would probbaly have a check engine light if it was misfiring. Timing is checked with a timing light. they are available anywhere. Motor/transmission mounts are usually a judgement thing. The engine/transmission(all one solid piece)is suspended from rubber mounts. So It will move a little. There are a couple stabilizers in the front of the car on both sides. they can be accessed through the wheel wells if you pull off a tire. They may be damaged. or torn.