If you own personal a sixth-generation Civic, you've most likely invested some time considering your honda s40 transmission . It's the particular backbone of the 1996 to 2000 Honda lineup, particularly the models rocking the D-series motors. Whether you're daily driving a DX, seeking to squeeze several fuel economy out of an HX, or enjoying the particular slightly peppier VTEC in an EX GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND, the S40 will be the piece of equipment that truly gets that will capacity to the sidewalk.
While these transmissions are usually generally reputed for getting pretty tough, they will aren't exactly invincible. They have their very own set of eccentricities, sounds, and servicing needs that every single owner should most likely know about before they end upward stranded or trapped with an enormous fix bill. Let's split down what can make this transmission tick, the way to keep it healthy, and what to do when items start sounding a bit "crunchy" under the hood.
What Makes the S40 Different?
To really understand the particular honda s40 transmission , you need to look back at its predecessor, the S20. Regarding the most part, the S40 has been an evolution. Honda moved away through some of the particular heavier internal elements and refined the particular casing. One associated with the biggest changes people talk about in the car community is the particular shift forks. Within the older S20 units, you'd frequently find steel shift forks, whereas the particular S40 shifted toward aluminum.
Now, in case you speak to some old-school Honda enthusiasts, they might tell you the particular steel ones had been "better" because they will were more rigorous, but for a standard street car, the S40 is more than capable. It's light, it shifts smoothly when it's in good shape, and it's surprisingly easy to work on in case you've got a decent set of equipment and some tolerance.
The S40 also came in some different "flavors" based on which trim level of the Social it had been bolted to. When you have an EX, your gear ratios are a bit smaller, which helps the car feel the little more lively when you're merging onto the highway. However, if you're driving an HX or a DX, individuals gears are expanded out. It might feel a bit reduced off the range, however your wallet will certainly thank you on the gas pump since the engine isn't shouting at 4, 000 RPM just to maintain highway speeds.
Identifying Your own Specific Unit
It can become a little confusing whenever you're looking regarding parts or a replacement because its not all honda s40 transmission is identical. The particular easiest way in order to know what you're dealing with is to look at the housing. There's generally a small circular stamp near the fill plug or for the front associated with the case.
If you see "B000, " you're looking at the big-bearing version, usually found on the EX models. This particular one is generally considered the "strongest" from the bunch mainly because the larger bearings can handle a little more stress. If your own stamp says "A000, " that's the small-bearing version, which was standard upon the DX and LX trims. Whilst they both function the same way, you can't easily swap internal components together without several serious modifications. It's among those little details that may turn a weekend project straight into a week-long head ache if you purchase the wrong rebuild kit.
That Bad Input Shaft Keeping Noise
In the event that we're going to talk about the honda s40 transmission , we have in order to talk about the particular elephant in the particular room: the input shaft bearing (ISB). In case you hear the whirring or growling noise while your own car is idling in neutral, yet it suddenly disappears the second you push the clutch pedal down, congratulations—your ISB is most likely on its method out.
This is arguably the particular most common failure point for these transmissions. It generally starts being a weak hum that most individuals ignore. As time passes, it gets louder plus louder until this sounds like you've got a blender full of marbles through your dashboard. The "good" news is definitely that the part itself is cheap—usually under thirty or even forty bucks. The bad news? You have to drop the whole transmission and divided the situation open to replace it.
Many people ask if they may just keep driving with a loud bearing. Technically, a person can , but it's a gamble. When that bearing ultimately disintegrates, it can send metal shards through your things, and then you're looking at a total replacement rather than an easy bearing swap. If you start hearing that tell-tale noise, start saving up for some shop period or clear out there your garage intended for a long weekend.
Choosing the particular Right Fluid
There is the long-standing debate within the Honda planet about what liquid should go directly into a honda s40 transmission . If you appear at the initial owner's manual through the 90s, it actually says a person can use standard 10W-30 motor oil as a temporary fix. Because of that, a great deal of people simply run motor essential oil forever.
Nevertheless, things have changed since 1996. Modern motor oils have different additive packages that aren't constantly great for the yellow metals (like your brass synchros) inside the transmission. If you would like your S40 to last another 200, 000 kilometers, it's really greatest to use genuine Honda Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF). It's designed especially for these types of gearboxes and has the right friction modifiers to keep your own shifts feeling "notchy" and precise rather than sloppy and grindy.
If you can't get your hands on Honda MTF, some people swear by brands such as Amsoil or Redline, but whatever you do, avoid thick equipment oils intended for trucks. They're overweight, and your synchros won't be able to do their job properly, leading in order to grinds every time a person try to change quickly.
Methods for a Smooth Change
Even along with the best fluid, a honda s40 transmission can begin feeling a little bit tired as the miles pile up. If you're noticing that will it's getting tougher to get straight into gear, or when you're experiencing the "crunch" when moving into second or even third, it might not be the particular transmission's fault completely.
Before a person go blaming the internal gears, look at your shift linkage bushing. Over twenty-plus many years, the rubber bushing in the addition get soft, dry-rotted, and generally gross. Replacing these along with some solid polyurethane bushings is one of the least expensive and most satisfying upgrades you may do. It requires the particular "slop" from the shifter and makes the whole car feel course of action more connected.
Another thing to keep an eye fixed on is the clutch i465 black hydraulic system. Occasionally a "grind" is in fact just the clutch not fully disengaging your own slave canister is leaking. It's always worth examining the easy stuff first before you commit to tugging the transmission out.
Is it Worth Rebuilding?
Eventually, every honda s40 transmission reaches a crossroads. Maybe the synchros are shot, or even the bearings are screaming, and you have to determine: do you fix this or swap it?
Locating an used S40 in a junkyard utilized to be extremely easy and cheap. You can pick 1 up for the hundred bucks, toss it in, plus go. But since these cars obtain older, finding the "good" used transmission has become a bit of a search. Most of the ones seated in scrap yards possess the same higher mileage and the particular same bearing issues as the one particular you're trying in order to replace.
If your casing will be in good form and you're considerably mechanically inclined, repairing an S40 is usually actually an excellent learning experience. Since it's a relatively simple 5-speed, you don't need the PhD in anatomist to get this apart and back again together. There are plenty of social networks and videos that will walk you with the process step-by-step. In addition, once you've changed the bearings and synchros yourself, you understand exactly what you've got, which is definitely a lot more comfort than the mystery box from a wrecking lawn.
Keeping the Legend Alive
The honda s40 transmission may not be the flashiest part of automotive tech around. It doesn't possess the "cool factor" of a six-speed from a Type R, plus it's not constructed to handle five hundred horsepower. But for exactly what it is—a reliable, efficient, and easy-to-maintain gearbox—it's hard in order to beat.
If you treat it right, keep the liquid fresh, and don't treat every crimson light like the begin of a pull race, these transmissions will easily outlast the car they're attached with. Just keep your ears open for that input shaft hum, and keep a couple associated with quarts of Honda MTF for the space. Your Civic will definitely thank a person for it.