My 1997 honda civic shudders and revs when shifting

Okay, I am assuming that your Civic has the automatic transmission installed because your description. in some spots, can be read either way. And, with that said, what you are experiencing is a simple case of “limp home-itis.”

Although you haven’t given me much to go on as to a specific diagnosis, I can tell that if your Civic revs and shakes when going from second to third and sometimes revs like it is in neutral then it is trying to shift into limp-home so you get home.

Now, it could be that the reason for the limp-home indication is that the torque converter is shot, however, there are other problems that can cause your Civic to act similarly. For example, if the tranny fluid is sludgy and dirty, it may not be able to pass smoothly through some of the hoses and galleries through which it has to go. In that instance, your shifts will be delayed and slipping.

It’s also possible that the bands and clutches have had it. Since it is happening through the range of the transmission, I would suspect that you’ll have to have them swapped out for all of the gears. And, if that is the case, then you are looking at a rebuilt transmission which will cost about $3,600, given today’s repair guides.

It is also possible that your Civic’s valve body could contain one or more check valves that have become lazy due to deposit buildups and because the springs have also become lazy. In this instance, your transmission will act the way you describe it.

Finally, one more thing that I can think of that might cause your transmission to act the way it is acting is that the shift-control solenoids are either sticking or failing which could cause the tranny to act in the manner you describe.

At this stage of your car’s life, given its age, I think you are looking at a rebuilt transmission. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Here are a couple of thoughts that should put you in the right direction.

Since I know now that your Civic has a manual installed, my first thought is to have the friction plate/clutch plate assembly looked at carefully. It sounds as if your Civic’s clutch plate is worn to the point where it is time the assembly should be replaced.

I know I called it an assembly and, in a sense, it is, since it acts as a unit. However, to be honest, the clutch plate is separate from the friction plate/flywheel assembly. When you push down on the clutch, the throwout bearing takes up the slack and separates the two plates so that you can shift to the next gear up or down. If you tried shifting without the clutch applied, then, assuming you have done this once or twice (I know I have), you know that your Civic would shudder and stop, unless you get the clutch in.

With that said, it is possible that the clutch plate is worn to the point where it is slipping in various gears. It may not be totally worn, but it is worn enough so that the clutch will slip and act in the manner you describe.

Now it is possible that it is on the engine side of the equation (friction plate/flywheel). If it is, then you will have to have the entire unit replaced, at a cost of about $1,200 or so for the unit without the $450 or so labor involved (there are so many Civics out there in scrapyards that you have the potential finding all the parts you need at a large savings in a local salvage yard where you will spend about 20 cents on the dollar — if it cost $1,400 new, it should cost you about $300 or so, though labor rates will remain the same).

It is possible that if the clutch face and friction plate/flywheel are in good shape, that the throwout bearing is shot. This means you will have to replace that unit at a cost of about $1,000 or so — with labor.

I’d look at those areas to start with and I think you will find it is likely one of those three.