Questions and Answers

Honda Civic LX Hard To Shift Cold Q. I have a 1997 Honda Civic LX manual transmission and have started having really hard shifting. It is fine once the car warms up, but when cold, I'm having to force into gear and the clutch pressure is near the bottom. Again, this only seems to happen when the car is cold and once it warms up, everything is fine.

I wanted to get your thoughts. I'm afraid to take it into the dealership for them to diagnose, because I'm afraid of getting ripped off by them wanting to replace the whole clutch where it may not be necessary. I just don't have much faith in the dealership diagnosing the problem.

They've hit me twice since I owned the car and have charged me for work not performed (i.e. once on a front end alignment, and once on fluid replacement/tire rotation). They made it right both times and the dealership has since been sold, but I still don't have much faith.

A. You didn't mention the milage, but I suspect the clutch is worn out to the point where it's starting to give you difficulties.

There is no clutch adjustment so you can prepare for a clutch replacement in the near future.