+1 for the 2002 1.4i Civic Max gearbox problem!
We're the second owners of our car, bought from a Honda dealer with about 18K on the clock in 2004. We had it Honda serviced right up to the point when they told us about the impending gearbox probs (which was early last year EDIT: I mean 2008, not 2009!). Once the dealer washed their hands of it and Honda UK did the same, we realised we were on our own with the problem. Like others out there, Honda told us that ours was an isolated problem!
It's just getting to a stage now where we're gonna have to have it fixed, so thanks Honda! BTW, to others out there questioning why we'd expect goodwill from Honda when it was a six year old car.....it had done less than 48K when the gearbox went! Other people have experienced the problem with much less than this.....THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A MODERN CAR! Honda should hang their heads in shame, but instead they bury their heads in the sand.
Edited by max7 on 05/01/2010 at 07:51
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Trade it in for a Kia. At least you can have seven years trouble free motoring as a geabox failure would be covered after six years - unlike your Honda.
A Kia Ce'ed estate is next on my shopping list......
Robin the Technican
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We seem to be seeing increasing numbers of gearbox problems. I think manufacturers are always trying to make gearboxes smaller and lighter and so reducing the size of bearings until failures start to occur.
A noisy gearbox input bearing is not the end of the world. Ensure the oil level is right, and use the proper OEM oil. If the bearing gets really noisy then take the car to a gearbox rebuilder and get them to change out the bearing. Dont go to the honda dealer, they will have your trousers down.
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We seem to be seeing increasing numbers of gearbox problems. I think manufacturers are always trying to make gearboxes smaller and lighter and so reducing the size of bearings until failures start to occur.
I wonder if turbodiesels and their huge torque figures have something to do with this as well
A friend told me a good pub fact the other day. The 300-and-something NM of torque output by a humble 2 litre ish diesel in a modern, affordable family hack / shopping car) is significantly greater than the 3.5 litre V8 in the SD1 put out back in the day, and in the order of twice what you get from typical 2 litre ish petrol family car engine.
Wonder what toll this takes on bearings over time, especially when combined with an unsympathetic driving style, low oil, or simple age.
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The problem will be bearings rather than the gears themselves. I agree with the comments regarding the durability of gearboxes, I have been running 2.1 td Citroen XMs for about 12 years, most have covered over 200,000 miles with no problems and one nearly 300k, not only were the gearboxes original but on the last one so was the clutch! One I am driving now has done nearly 200k and the gearbox is a little noisey at certain speeds but it hasn't got any worse in the last 10k. If the power is increased so should the strength of the gearbox be, it always has in the past. I think most modern cars are rubbish, which is why I don't drive one.
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We've taken Workshoptech's advice and booked to have the box overhauled by specialist rebuilder P&R Gearboxes in Copthorne, West Sussex. Spoke with a guy called Pete - he confirmed that the Civics are a regular rebuild for him.
They seem like a really nice genuine company, though they don't have the facilities to remove the box...so we're getting that done by Auto Europe in Charlwood. We're getting the clutch done whilst the box is out too as it seemed like an ideal opportunity.
Dropping the car off tomorrow - really looking forward to it being fixed now. Cheers all, you spurned us into action!
Robin the Technician - you're dead right about the Kia. We hired a Ce'ed (turbo diesel hatchback, think it was a 1.9 or thereabouts) whilst touring Scotland last summer. The weather was pink fluffy dice but the car was really surprisingly good!!! Steering was a bit vague (but got used to it after 2 weeks). Really perky, roomy, economical and quiet too. At the end of our hols the wife and I were really, really sorry to be giving it back.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 05/01/2010 at 21:04
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Hi
I have to do a similar repair. Can you let us know how much you paid?
regards
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Yes my car also has a failing input bearing car is just over five years old (late 2004 executive model) with 75k miles. Honda says it’s not a common problem, car out of warranty, high mileage and refuse to comment on this forum. Honda there is a problem and they should act on resolve the issue instead of making up excuses
Also when it was two years old had the tailgate re-sprayed under warranty due to it rusting around the chrome part above the number plate. The guy at Honda told me this was a common problem as the chrome moulding cuts into the paintwork causing it to rust. I now keep seeing other civics all rusting in this area obviously where owners have not picked up on original fault.
Honda Civic A Quality car are you joking ...... I will never ever buy a Honda again.
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Civic 1.4 2002 - same problem, and looking back at service records the noise first showed up in 2007, five years from new, and the dealer just said keep an eye on it. I wonder what they knew? Now ours is noisy in four gears but has done 58000 miles.
Is it time we clubbed together and really made a fuss with Honda as a joint letter? If you think so, email me your details. I will start by writing to Honda on behalf of everyone who wishes me to and then move on to writing to the motoring press - newspapers and magazines.
I also expected better reliability from Honda. Subaru has been a much better bet.
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I think that clubbing together is a good idea in principle, but in practice will probably achieve very little (other than getting it off our chests!). Honda buried their heads in the sand over this when we contacted them originally and I've no doubt they'd be even less helpful now that another 2 years or so have passed.
All I would say is that the gearbox rebuild cost just under £500 (way short of the £1K quoted by a Honda dealer!) and it's transformed the car. We had the clutch done whilst the 'box was out, so at least that's out the way now too.
Would we buy another Honda again after this? Like hell....
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OK all, here's the good news if you don't know already:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=59332
Now for the bad news; it's not quite true. Honda have indeed extended the warranty on all Jazz / Civics to cover this problem.....but from 2003 models onwards, not 2002!!!
I just had another row with our local Honda dealer, asking why the hell Honda have made the distinction i.eif they're finally acknowledging the problem, why not be fair and let it cover ALL people affected. He said his hands were tied.
Why does that not surprise me?!
Still, if your Civic or Jazz is a 2003 onwards and covered less than 100,000 the get down to your local Honda dealer NOW!!!!!
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Hi I have a Civic on 53 plate and rang main dealer who were very cagey about extended warranty, said they didnt know anything about it and offered to do diagonistic test for £55 an take it from there
Which Honda main dealer are you using and perhaps I can get more sense from them or at least get them to acknowledge the extended warranty.
Many thanks for your help
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Hi Richard,
Dunno why they're being so cagey, Honda will pay them to do the work. Either call - or get them to call - Gatwick Honda. They're our local main dealer, they confirmed that the extended warranty is an absolute deffo...and not some urban myth!
HTH.
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Glad I found this thread as just thought I was the unlucky one with an unreliable Honda civic 1.4. Same problem as others with noise in 1st and 2nd gears which seems to be getting worse, no noise in neutral. Sept 53 plate 50k miles we were second owner and have had for 3 years
Emailed Honda Customer services asking if this was normal and mentioned this site and service bulletin. Have been told to take to local Honda dealer for investigation and will then look at any claim. So taking car to Hendy Honda at Southampton next week and will let you know how I get on!
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Had the car in Hendy Honda in Southampton today and they have confirmed Gearbox bearings need to be replaced but have also said my Honda is one of those covered under the extended warranty and are submitting a claim on my behalf to Honda, will order the parts and book the car in when ready.
So far very happy and so glad I found this website and big thanks to those who have pointed out the extended warranty bit as would have been none the wiser.
Hendy Honda Southampton have been really good so far.
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F.A.O svx man
Hi just came across your post. I am having the same problems with my Honda Civic Sport 1.6. My car is nearly 6 years old and I have been told by the Honda garage that I need to replace my gearbox bearings...not cheap I hasten to add. Thought that it was a bit c*** really, my car has done 46,000 miles, even the guy in the Honda garage said it was unusual. There was talk of an extended 7 year warranty by Honda for the gearbox bearings on Civics. I phoned them only to find out that my car is not covered only the 1.4 and the 1.8. Did you have any luck?
My contact email is: maria.traynor@virgin.net
Many Thanks
Maria
Edited by mtraynor on 12/05/2010 at 21:12
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I discovered today that it sounds like my input shaft bearing is just staring to go. Just bought the car, its a Honda Civic 1.6 vtec 2002 model. The car has 48000 miles on it and in good shape. Any idea how long you think it will take until the bearing needs changing and what to watch/listen out for ie. when to get it changed, does sound like its just starting and thought originally it would be the clutch release bearing but after reading here i'm pretty sure it's the input shaft bearing? I know this will probably require the gearbox rebuilding but just want to know how long i've got. Thanks very much
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hi everyone,
I have a 2003 honda civi 1/4 69400 miles on it. after reading this site I found out about the warrenty on gearbox. So i went to my local honda dealer they took it in, test drove it and put it up on the ramp. Came back to tell me the bearings are gone but they can't be certain until they take my gearbox apart ( 5 hour job ) if it is warrenty covered or not. They wanted me to comit to them that I would pay the repair if honda came back and said it's not covered. The cost to take it apart just to find out if it IS covered was £390.00. If it wasn't covered i'd have to pay them for taking it apart then fixing it then putting it back together. So costs looking at more than £1000.00. So basiscally honda charged me £42.00 to tell me what I already knew the bearings were gone in the gear box.
It turns out you do not have a leg to stand on with the warenty on your gearbox if your car has not been serviced by honda every year since new. So the warrenty is not worth the paper it is written on. Long and boring story short if you have the same issue where it makes the noise when your foot comes off biting point and when your foot is not on the cluth and you are just driving, then it's gonna cost you minimum £600.00 ( inc vat ) to get it fixed. Warning signs that it is happening on your car, is it sounds like a remote control car when driving normal or accelrating. I've been fortunate that it's only NOW it's gone on the car and HAD to be replaced however the remote control car noise has been going on for about 2 yrs. So it doesn't mean you have to replace it STRAIGHT away if you hear the wee noises. However when you get the point where it sounds like it's crunching metal you NEED to replace it.
Never trust a honda dealer. If you get the issue take your car to a trusted local garage to fix it's a LARGE job. Honda will just make you pay through the nose for it.
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