Used in the 1996-2000 Honda Civic, the Honda S40 transmission was a robust 5-speed manual gearbox that was favored for its precise action and reliability. But Honda S40 transmission problems can still happen. So let’s see what’s going on.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Honda S40 Transmission Applications
| Model |
|---|
| Honda Civic |
Common Honda S40 Transmission Diagnostic Trouble Codes | DTC
P0132
P0505
P1149
P0133
Honda S40 Technical Service Bulletins | TSB
TSB 99-049 – Check engine light on with P0133 DTC
1998 Honda Civic EX
Problem – Even though there may be no drivability issues, the check engine light may stay illuminated with the P0133 DTC stored in the ECM.
Solution – If you’re having these Honda S40 transmission problems, then the engine control module may be overly sensitive to driver inputs. To fix the issue, a new ECM will need to be installed.
Common Honda S40 Transmission Problems
Disintegrating Honda S40 clutch discs
This information was taken verbatim from a Honda service article:
Looking at a clutch housing that’s filled with fibrous, fur-like stuff? What you’re seeing is part of the bits and pieces of a disintegrated clutch disc, which happens when shifting from a higher gear to a lower one while decelerating from higher speeds.
Here’s a typical scenario:
Getting off the freeway, you push in the clutch to coast to a stop at the bottom of the off ramp. Thinking it’s a good idea, you drop into 1st gear so you’re ready to take off when the light turns green. But you do it while the vehicle is still moving at a pretty good clip (far faster than you can go in first gear). There’s a big bang or thunk, and next thing you know… You’re calling for a tow truck.
What happened was that as soon as 1st gear engaged, the wheels were now driving the mainshaft, which oversped the clutch disc. With such a high mainshaft speed, the clutch disc materials simply disintegrated from the extreme centrifugal force being generated.
What Transmission Do I Have?
