i just traveled about an hour and a half and bought a beautiful looking 97 honda accord EX stick shift with 100k miles. it was running perfect until about an hour into the trip home it popped out of fifth gear. Not having much experience with stick, i held it in fifth in an attempt to get home. It was getting worse and worse and my arm started to hurt so i just pulled over. then i noticed that from me holding it in gear so long, the actual shifter was off center and i can no longer shift to any gear except 4th. i had to have it towed to a mechanic but they arnt open yet so i was wondering if anyone knew what would be wrong with it (common accord problems) and what the cheapest and best replacement parts would be so the mechanic doesnt rip me off. thanks in advance

 

No common problems that I know of but it could be a few things, linkage came off, linkage adjustment, transmission issue... what happened when you tried to shift to a different gear? It just wouldn't go in or move anywhere except that one spot?

 

after i pulled over and stopped holding it in fifth, the shifter was almost bent to the right when it was in neutral. i could not shift to any gear except 4th. overall, its just messed up but i dont think that part will be expensive (the shifter). what im worried about is that it was popping out of fifth which might be the transmission. in that case it would be really expensive unless anyone else know something that i dont.

 

I had a friend who had a Saab turbo and it would pop out of second gear if he let off the gas, he was told it was the syncros. Before you go looking at new trannies check out all the linkages and make sure that it is all adjusted properly and repair your shifter first. If 4th was the only gear you could get it into after the whole mess I would agree with sir_nasty.

 

if it is the transmission and it needs an overhaul, would it be a viable option to buy a kit and do it myself. i dont know much about cars but i am a good learner, just wouldnt want to completely mess up my car if there is a lot of risk involved.

 

I would not recomend doing a tranny rebuild yourself. Honda dealerships don't even rebuild trannies; they just put new ones in. If cash is a little tight I would go to a junkyard and find the lowest mileage car there and take its tranny.

 

some will do rebuilds if they have a dude there that can (manual only) but autos are a swap job.

 

whats the average price for labor on a tranny swap?

also what would be a ballpark on a used tranny at say 50k miles (just an idea)

 

500 for the tranny