1992 Honda Prelude Ugly GRINDING noise on 2nd gear!

MAXAMODOS

MEMBER
1992 HONDA PRELUDE
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
170,000 MILES

Long story short. Some guy tried to steal my car right in front of me. He didn't know what he was doing though and kept pulling the shifter toward second gear without depressing the clutch. Ever since then I have not been able to shift into second gear without a very nasty grinding sound (although it does seem to happen FAR less when down-shifting). Also the problem seems to be spreading. Lately third gear has been having the same symptoms on occasion but not nearly as bad or as often as second. Oh, and the shifter will not stay put in second without me holding it there in my hand. Particularly at low speed it will pop back to neutral all on its own.

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Hi there,

Forcing the selector like that has caused considerable damage to the 2nd gear synchro hub & cone, they have basically ground away the selecting & locking mechanism for this gear, the oil will be full of metal that may be affecting the operation of the other synchros, so i would in the short term change the trans oil, but this will be of no benefit for second gear, the box will have to come out and be overhauled, see link for manual transmission operation, the box is what is called a constant mesh gear box, that is ill gears are in mess and you select and lock in the required gear, this part of the transmission for 2nd gear is what he has destroyed.

mark (mhpautos)

https://www.2carpros.com/how_does_it_work/manual_transmission.htm