Rumble / Shake ?

[iKevin]

I'm driving a 2008 Honda Civic with a manual transmission, up to this point I had no problems at all. Now however, I started to notice that when accelerating from a standstill in first gear, it starts out smoothly but then the car shakes/rumbles just before its fully into gear. I even feel it sometimes when shifting into second.

Again, I've had no problems up to this point so I know I'm not shifting incorrectly. Does anybody know what would cause this to happen? I only bought the car about for five months ago and I'm worried that there's something seriously wrong with the transmission or clutch, because I know how expensive that can be to fix. The car has about 101,000 km in it right now.

[ripply]

Does this happen only on cold days? My car used to jerk in the mornings when it was cold. I ended up buying a SRI and the problem disappeared. Check your air filter and clean out the MAF sensor. That could help

[iKevin]

Originally Posted by ripply

Does this happen only on cold days? My car used to jerk in the mornings when it was cold. I ended up buying a SRI and the problem disappeared. Check your air filter and clean out the MAF sensor. That could help

Well it only started happening on Monday or so, and yeah it's been a little cold out but it's been fluctuating between 10 and -3 degrees C since then, and no matter what the temp has been since then, it's been happening. Even if I've been driving it for a while (enough to warm the car up nicely) it changes nothing.

I'll change the air filter, but what's an MAF sensor and how do I clean it?

[iKevin]

Anybody else have any other thoughts about what is wrong with my car?

[volvo9]

it's only shaking when slipping the clutch?

Sounds like clutch chatter to me.

Here's an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOWe9P7z598

Notice how the car shakes when the clutch is slipping.

[iKevin]

Originally Posted by volvo9

it's only shaking when slipping the clutch?

Sounds like clutch chatter to me.

Here's an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOWe9P7z598

Notice how the car shakes when the clutch is slipping.

Hmm. That's a good guess but I don't think that's what it is. If it is though, my situation isn't anywhere near as severe as that video; for me it's very quick at the end of the shift just before its fully engaged into the gear, kinda like 5 or 6 rumbles/shakes in rapid succession, followed by it being fully in gear.

I'll attempt to record a video of it happening from inside the car later today or tomorrow, but how accurately it will show the problem, I don't know.

[iKevin]

Here's a video of it happening.

[iKevin]

Here's a video of it happening.

Rumble when shifting 2008 Civic - YouTube

[volvo9]

Thanks for the video

It still looks like clutch chatter, it's just not nearly as bad as that video I linked too, I just tried to find an obvious example.

Only other possibility I see would be a broken motor mount. When the clutch is fully engaged if you step on the gas all the way does the car clunk or bang, or just accelerate?

do you normally take off like that? There's a lot of slippage in that video. You should slip the clutch less to prolong it's life... unless you where just making the symptoms show.

[iKevin]

Originally Posted by volvo9

Thanks for the video

It still looks like clutch chatter, it's just not nearly as bad as that video I linked too, I just tried to find an obvious example.

Only other possibility I see would be a broken motor mount. When the clutch is fully engaged if you step on the gas all the way does the car clunk or bang, or just accelerate?

do you normally take off like that? There's a lot of slippage in that video. You should slip the clutch less to prolong it's life... unless you where just making the symptoms show.

With the clutch fully Engadged and pressing on the gas it seems to accelerate just fine with no noticeable issues.

Regarding the video, yeah I did it like that to make it a tad more noticeable, but you can be sure that it still happens just as bad as the video no matter how I do it.

[volvo9]

I'll give my diagnosis then.

I'd say your clutch is showing signs of age.

If you drive it gently it could last for many thousand miles more, beat on it in any way and you can kill it fast, so keep slippage to a minimum.

[evandonald]

I had similar problems as you do. Then my clutch pedal started clicking when you press it. I brought it to Hondas attention and they simply lubed up the pedal pivot. It seemed to fix the clicking but not the rough clutch engagement. Few months later the clicking came back and I found a tsb for the clutch master cylinder. Honda replaced the clutch master cylinder and the click is gone as well as the harsh engagement. My old cmc failed slowly and I got used to it but once I had a new one it drives and engages like a dream!


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[iKevin]

Originally Posted by evandonald

I had similar problems as you do. Then my clutch pedal started clicking when you press it. I brought it to Hondas attention and they simply lubed up the pedal pivot. It seemed to fix the clicking but not the rough clutch engagement. Few months later the clicking came back and I found a tsb for the clutch master cylinder. Honda replaced the clutch master cylinder and the click is gone as well as the harsh engagement. My old cmc failed slowly and I got used to it but once I had a new one it drives and engages like a dream!


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Dude you just blew my mind! I'm having the same issue with the clicking of the clutch pedal so I think I'm in the same situation you were.

I've got to ask, since you took at the Honda, how much did they charge you for the repair? Or were you still under warranty?

[iKevin]

So I took the car over to my mechanic and they couldn't see why the car would rumble at the end of the first year. They told me I would have to take it to Honda and hope that they can figure it out. I even mentioned to them that it could be the clutch master cylinder as described by one of the other posters, but I guess it didn't do any good.

Now since my clutch pedal is also making the noise that the previous poster described, I asked them to look at that too and all they could do was lubed it up and say that they could not figure out why it was making that noise. I don't really know what that says about my mechanic but I guess I will just have to take it to Honda and see what they say. This is becoming a pain in the ass.

[evandonald]

I was under an extended warranty when I had it replaced. There is a Tsb out for it and I will have a look tomorrow. If I find it I will post it. It will give you a better chance in scoring a free repair or see what Honda will do for you. Best of luck!


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[iKevin]

Originally Posted by evandonald

I was under an extended warranty when I had it replaced. There is a Tsb out for it and I will have a look tomorrow. If I find it I will post it. It will give you a better chance in scoring a free repair or see what Honda will do for you. Best of luck!


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Might be a dumb question but what is a tsb?

[evandonald]

It is a technical service bulletin. It's usually out out for things that seem to be common between vehicles of the same make and model. If the clutch master cylinders are common to make a popping noise and need replacement say for example on 2006-2009 Honda civics then Honda puts out a tsb. It's kind of like a recall but it's not safety related.




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[iKevin]

Originally Posted by evandonald

It is a technical service bulletin. It's usually out out for things that seem to be common between vehicles of the same make and model. If the clutch master cylinders are common to make a popping noise and need replacement say for example on 2006-2009 Honda civics then Honda puts out a tsb. It's kind of like a recall but it's not safety related.




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Ohh I get it. Yeah I'm gonna just bring it to Honda next week or something and see what they say. I just hope it's covered because I know it's not gonna be cheap to get something fixed out of warranty!

Thanks for all your help!