clutch question!

[jen.]

Two weeks ago I picked up an 07 Si Coupe. It apparently has the infamous third gear problem (pops out of third, grinds going into third, feels "notchy") so I will be bringing it into the dealership for warranty repairs where they will probably be replacing my third gear synchronizer or set.

While it's in there I'm going to have them put on a clutch and flywheel, so that I don't later have to pay labor charges to take everything apart, or spend the time doing it.

I'm pretty new to cars and I'm trying to figure out if anyone here has had any good or bad experiences with clutches in the newer si's. I'm looking at an ACT or Exedy clutch with an ACT Streetlite flywheel.

Any suggestions, experiences, etc?

[phillycivicsi]

I dont think the dealership will put in a aftermarket clutch for u because when i blew my trans in my si i told them i wanted them to put in a aftermarket clutch while the trans out and they said no if its not frm honda they cant do it but if they do ill go with the act exedy clutches in the si have alot of probs

[phillycivicsi]

If they wont do it i got a shop that will for a reasonable price its basically a si shop

[jen.]

Originally Posted by phillycivicsi

I dont think the dealership will put in a aftermarket clutch for u because when i blew my trans in my si i told them i wanted them to put in a aftermarket clutch while the trans out and they said no if its not frm honda they cant do it but if they do ill go with the act exedy clutches in the si have alot of probs

thanks! i've actually been hearing a lot of the opposite (that when ACT clutches have been put in, it's been breaking master cylinders....something about the hydraulic problems in the SIs)

also, I already called the dealership and they said they'd put on both the clutch and flywheel, and that my warranty would still be good!

[phillycivicsi]

nice then i would do it!!!! how much labor are they charging u do u know by any chance!?

[Fit-FTW]

i'm pretty sure there's a TSB for the newer si's for tranny issues

should be able to get that fixed under warranty for free

but if you had to spend the 800 bucks for a clutch/flywheel swap i'd go with ACT

[jen.]

Originally Posted by phillycivicsi

nice then i would do it!!!! how much labor are they charging u do u know by any chance!?

I have no idea yet, when I called they said we'd take it one step at a time. They're going to road test my vehicle first for the trans problem, and if it has the problem (which it does), then they are going to replace the 3rd gear synchronizer and then call me with an estimate for how much the clutch and flywheel will cost.

It shouldn't be too much, considering Honda will be paying for everything to come apart, and all I will be paying for is the cost for the extra 12 bolts to come off and the actual swapping of the clutch and flywheel

Originally Posted by Fit-FTW

i'm pretty sure there's a TSB for the newer si's for tranny issues

should be able to get that fixed under warranty for free

but if you had to spend the 800 bucks for a clutch/flywheel swap i'd go with ACT

Yep, there is a TSB and I already have it printed. As it turns out, a TON of people with this car have this problem. When I called the mechanic and asked about it, I said, "do you know this problem that I'm talking about?" and he actually laughed and goes, "oh yeah, I KNOW the problem you're talking about". My car is still under warranty and I bought it certified 2 weeks ago so it is definitely being fixed for free.

As for the clutch I think I'm actually going with Exedy. I know in general that ACT is the way to go, but I'm hearing WAY too many negative things about how finicky this car is with the ACT clutch.

[Fit-FTW]

i've had an ACT for my s2k and never complained once

as far as Exedy goes.....make sure it's streetable.....depending on which one you get they're more for heavy duty track/auto-x options

what kind of driving do you do? you may not need an aftermarket clutch unless you start making some serious power w/ the k20 (boost)

stock clutch/flywheel should handle it just fine if you're not planning on many mods
and i'm sure honda would stand behind all the tranny issues.....but i'm not sure they can replace the aftermarket one if you get it installed by them (you may have to pay, at least for parts)

just some thoughts before you decide to spend the money.

-Ricky

[Fit-FTW]

oh and P.S. i just spent 1600 bucks for a clutch/flywheel swap in a Mini Cooper S

it's a BMW so i knew it was going to be super expensive 12 hrs labor @ 65bucks/hour

i don't see parts for clutch/flywheel being more than 600 on the si

all i'm saying really is get it replaced for free by honda and then save your money for some bolts ons, cams, kpro, etc for the si (i'm assuming it's stock)
and then worry about replacing the clutch after you're putting some power to the ground

[jen.]

Originally Posted by Fit-FTW

oh and P.S. i just spent 1600 bucks for a clutch/flywheel swap in a Mini Cooper S

it's a BMW so i knew it was going to be super expensive 12 hrs labor @ 65bucks/hour

i don't see parts for clutch/flywheel being more than 600 on the si

all i'm saying really is get it replaced for free by honda and then save your money for some bolts ons, cams, kpro, etc for the si (i'm assuming it's stock)
and then worry about replacing the clutch after you're putting some power to the ground

Thanks for the feedback! I'm replacing the clutch because from what I've heard from other si owners, the stock clutch on the SI wears pretty damn quickly.

If this is true, I'd rather get it replaced now when I don't have to pay labor. (Honda is paying for my trans problem, and the clutch and flywheel are 12 bolts away...I don't anticipate the dealership charging me too much in labor for the swap out). If I wait until my stock clutch is worn, Honda isn't going to pay the hourly labor to take everything apart again. Honda doesn't replace the clutch and flywheel for free, they aren't warrantied items so I'm more or less replacing them now for the convenience of not having to pay labor later.

So basically, I'm replacing this stuff while Honda is paying to have my whole trans apart anyway, so that in the future the labor charges aren't on me.

The Exedy clutch is a Stage 1 organic, so it's fine for the streets, but I will certainly now be looking at some ACT clutches too, thanks to you!

[Fit-FTW]

ok....so your paying at least 5-600 bucks for your new clutch/flywheel setup

if ur going with the exedy stage 1 then i'd get the exedy flywheel too

not that you can't run the oem flywheel but with the exedy it will be apples/apples not apples/oranges if you understand what i mean?

i'd also check 8thcivic to see if there's a review for both the Exedy Stage 1 and ACT setup........it'll give you more of an idea of what your buying

[Fit-FTW]

8th civic link:

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/ontar...-flywheel.html

exedy stg 1 w/ flywheel

[evomike]

Doesn't the tsb just involve changin the fluid and such, I think that what they did with mine

[jen.]

Originally Posted by Fit-FTW

ok....so your paying at least 5-600 bucks for your new clutch/flywheel setup

if ur going with the exedy stage 1 then i'd get the exedy flywheel too

not that you can't run the oem flywheel but with the exedy it will be apples/apples not apples/oranges if you understand what i mean?

i'd also check 8thcivic to see if there's a review for both the Exedy Stage 1 and ACT setup........it'll give you more of an idea of what your buying

Yeah, I would rather spend the money now on a nice clutch/flywheel that's going to last awhile rather than in 15,000 miles spend 1-2k for a clutch/flywheel + labor. I have the money now to do it and I just want it to get done while they're in there.

I've read a lot of reviews, and I ended up picking up an ACT clutch and flywheel today, thanks to everyone's help. It came highly recommended by the guys at JSC who were really helpful. Thanks for all your input, as well!

Originally Posted by evomike

Doesn't the tsb just involve changin the fluid and such, I think that what they did with mine

Nope, it actually involves changing out the whole third gear set.

http://automotivetech.org/at/6spdtsb.pdf

[oneslowxa]

we have done a good number of ACT clutch and flywheel and we have yet to see a cylinder go bad...

probably depends on what setup you have...

[Fit-FTW]

awesome......ACT makes awesome clutches for Honda's.........can't go wrong

time to save up for a kpro! :D

edit: P.S. how much did you spend on that setup if you don't mind telling?

[phillycivicsi]

They dont have kpro for the new si its somethin similar called flash pro and jen they said they are gonna drive it and see if u need to fix ur 3rd gear. They say they cant reanact the problem so they wont fix it If the 3 rd gear prob doesnt happen very often in ur car. i doubt they will replace it just bitch alot to them.. If they dont

[jen.]

Originally Posted by phillycivicsi

They dont have kpro for the new si its somethin similar called flash pro and jen they said they are gonna drive it and see if u need to fix ur 3rd gear. They say they cant reanact the problem so they wont fix it If the 3 rd gear prob doesnt happen very often in ur car. i doubt they will replace it just bitch alot to them.. If they dont

They fixed it! I HIGHLY recommend to anyone with a Honda going to Scott Honda in West Chester. They're awesome there. They were VERY aware of the problem, it didn't even seem like they cared about reproducing it. They just took my word and fixed it.

Brought my car in at 7:30 am this morning, got a call around noon letting me know that my trans was apart, and asking if I wanted the ACT clutch and flywheel put in for the extra labor charge. Of course, I said yes.

I told the tech that I was so happy they were able to reproduce it and he just sort of said, "Well, we're aware of the problem....so yeah"

Got another call at 3:45 saying the whole car (trans, clutch, flywheel, everything!) was done!

They got everything done and I got my car back the same day!

[phillycivicsi]

how much is labor and my friend is definately gonna check out scott honda thanks for the info

[keefer]

Heh. And I wondered how an after market clutch was installed in my car after I purchased it "certified".

Its still getting replaced because I'm not sure which clutch it is. I'll probably go with the CC Stage 2 carbon kevlar and have the flywheel resurfaced.