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My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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fixitagaintony
New User
Mar 14, 2009, 2:00 PM
Post #1 of 6
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My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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was parked in MY garage all winter! (she came over and started it up a few times and gave it a run on the highway every two weeks) now that spring is here she wants it, today . . . (sorry for the long story) I finally got the Garage door unstuck from the ice dam and drove it out onto the driveway (away from the damn ice) Started up fine, had to give it some speed to roll it out over the ice/snow now I can't get it into gear- the shifter slides around in neutral can't shove it up or down into any of the gears BUT . . over in reverse, CAN get it 'near' but feel the grinding and stop. HELP! she's going to kill me. She did have somekind of problem with shifting gears a while ago (slippage)(jumping into another gear) I dunno, I was only half listening she complains about everything . . . its 7 years oldish .. I think??? Thank you for any enlightenment. F.I.A.T.
(This post was edited by fixitagaintony on Mar 14, 2009, 2:02 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 14, 2009, 4:09 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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It may have a failed hydraulic clutch and clutch isn't disengaging making shifting from neutral near impossible. It may partially work if you started it in gear if you stayed in that gear but with all caution as it might take off! Check the master cylinder for the clutch - there are probably two on this - the smaller for the clutch. If VERY low it might behave a little while when filled but not to leave it without the real repair. Just the guess du jour for this. Could have other trans issues as well, T
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fixitagaintony
New User
Mar 14, 2009, 6:05 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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Thanks T now I'm worried- its not because its been cold for a long time? Why did it decide to fail??? I live fa-fa-away to the north. Ottawa-CANADA ccccold p.s I like cats too.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 14, 2009, 6:21 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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Tom; I don't deal with cold climates like you folks; I know that brake fluid draws moisture like a sponge. Since clutch fluid is the same, could the moisture freeze? and cause a problem in an unheated garage? Loren SW Washington
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 15, 2009, 1:36 AM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: My Sister's Honda Civic . . .
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CarJunkyapedia, w LOL by Tom Greenleaf DOT 3 Brake fluid (by far the most common) is a glycol based, hygroscopic, anti corrosive, high boiling point, non compressible hydraulic fluid to transfer forces via lines, by seals and needs to be "rubber" friendly. I have a headache already! All that is to say it does absorb moisture and that raises corrosiveness and seriously lowers boiling point - which is important as vapor would compress if boiling. Little was mentioned about exacting subzero properties so I go by my own experience of dealing with -40F or so with OUTDOOR cars - one night only storage. This fluid no doubt gets VERY thick when cold and probably doesn't freeze to a solid but if so would contract vs expand so alone wouldn't break anything by expansion. However - brake and hydraulic clutch linkage are using both metal and rubber products that would expand and contract at their own rates and possibly allow a temporary violation of the "air tight" requirements of the master and slave cylinder concepts used in either brake or clutch applications. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In short there's a real possibility of air getting in or fluid leaking out and the linkage has air in it which won't properly operate the clutch now. Simply filling it may be enough as the air may rise and self bleed IF that air was in the higher areas of the system. If locked in the slave cylinder it would need to be bled out. Cold does play a factor in the sealing property with unequal expansion and contraction. The rubber parts are usually "flared" to accommodate most of that but the extremes of possible -40F or C for that matter (close to the same in either) however the action/reaction would be slow. Ever note a "lumpy" feeling tire that worked out when used and warmed up or a simple garden hose when hot vs cold even without water in it? The fix: It's a guess that even if level didn't drop that some air got in that would at least partially self bleed with pumping it up - best when warmed up now and bleeding it may be required or parts may have failed. Allow this car to warm up to operating temp idling in neutral as the gear oil will also be warmed some with input shaft turning - when in neutral - foot off clutch. Pump up clutch pedal several times first and attempt 2nd or 3rd gear at first and the proof is when it can go into reverse (non synchronized) without a gear grind that the linkage is working and the clutch has fully disengaged. *********** Kitty didn't feel up to editing or verifying the content of this verbose article on the properties of glycol based brake fluids! T
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