Is my Snap Ring broken? or does Skippy need to go to summer school?

[stevesp]

I need some guidance, and when it comes to my NSX this has been a great place to turn.

Today I brought my ’91 NSX into Acura for its 70k service. I bought the car 6 months ago from a friend of a friend. I was assured the car is not in the snap ring range, but for my piece of mind I asked the certified Acura teenager…whoops I mean customer representative to please record the transmission number and lookup if it is in the dreaded snap ring range.

The Acura rep (known from this point forward as Skippy), not really knowing what I was talking about (he was probably day dreaming of Britney Spears) had the mechanic check my snap ring visually (is this really possible?)

Skippy calls me up and lets me know that they performed the 70k service, and that my snap ring is indeed broken….BROKEN…WHAT!! (I cannot in good conscience tell you the other things I said)

Now this confuses me, on the way to drop my car off to Skippy, I was racing mustangs, and having no issues with my transmission (or dispatching the mustangs I might add).

Could my snap ring be broken and my car still work without any indications of an issue?

If so, should I repair it or let it fail completely?

If it needs repair, what other options do I have than the $8130 transmission Skippy wants me to buy?

I am sorry if the answer to my questions are in previous messages, but I really need a full answer, and I did not want to piece meal one together from older posts.

Please help….

Thanks,

Steve

 

[steveny]

The best place to start would be to post the number on the top of your transmission. In the FAQ section there is a walk through on how to find this number. This is the most pertinent piece of information needed to answer some of your questions.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Stevesp,

To answer your questions directly:

Yes, You can inspect it visually

Yes, it may not have symptoms.

Yes, you MUST fix it.

Find if your trans is in the range. Go here: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Troubleshooting/transmission.htm (although, it kind of does not matter, if the ring is broken, by default it "IS" in the range.)

If so have the trans removed, using the TSB in the writeup found here: http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Reference/tsb/93-010.htm , change ALL Parts INCLUDING the case half.

2. DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR ANY REASON. This can make it a VERY expensive repair if you drive it. I would even tow it to the place you will have it fixed.

Inevitably, once the trans is out you WILL put in a clutch, so figure $3.5k-$4.0K TOTAL.

If Skippy, does not want to approach this repair this way, find another dealer/mechanic that will. Or, I know you can purchase a rebuilt trans built to your specs from Mark Basch and Dali Racing. Check here for pricing. http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/catalog/index_browse_part.cfm?focus=375 They have pricing ranging from $3K up. If you want to keep it stock (I assume it is) it might be a little cheaper. This route would be $3K for the trans, $1.5K tops for the clutch, and figure worst case 8 hours labor @$75/hr or $600, so your at about 5.1K Total. So this way "as NEW" trans + NEW clutch for 5K.

Never the less $8130 is out in space somewhere for this repair.

Since your trans shows no symptoms, I still feel the $3.5K-$4K route would be fine. The internals of your trans AT THIS POINT are fine, again DON'T DRIVE IT.

The best explanation of your situation can be found here but I do not recall the URL. The Forums Nazi will stop by shortly and after he tells you "search is your friend" he may give you a hint.

Whatever you do, don't ask for soup

HTH,
LarryB



[This message has been edited by Larry Bastanza (edited 08 June 2002).]

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

First, check if the tranny is indeed within the range. The price they quoted you is way out of line. We offer a rebuilt transmission for $1400, and labor should be $400-$800 to take out a tranny and put one in.

Here is our rebuilt transmission special: http://www.acrmotorsports.com/acrbluep5spe.html

Originally posted by stevesp:
I need some guidance, and when it comes to my NSX this has been a great place to turn.

Today I brought my 91 NSX into Acura for its 70k service. I bought the car 6 months ago from a friend of a friend. I was assured the car is not in the snap ring range, but for my piece of mind I asked the certified Acura teenager?hoops I mean customer representative to please record the transmission number and lookup if it is in the dreaded snap ring range.

The Acura rep (known from this point forward as Skippy), not really knowing what I was talking about (he was probably day dreaming of Britney Spears) had the mechanic check my snap ring visually (is this really possible?)

Skippy calls me up and lets me know that they performed the 70k service, and that my snap ring is indeed broken.BROKEN?HAT!! (I cannot in good conscience tell you the other things I said)

Now this confuses me, on the way to drop my car off to Skippy, I was racing mustangs, and having no issues with my transmission (or dispatching the mustangs I might add).

Could my snap ring be broken and my car still work without any indications of an issue?

If so, should I repair it or let it fail completely?

If it needs repair, what other options do I have than the $8130 transmission Skippy wants me to buy?

I am sorry if the answer to my questions are in previous messages, but I really need a full answer, and I did not want to piece meal one together from older posts.

Please help.

Thanks,

Steve

------------------

www.acrmotorsports.com

[This message has been edited by ACR_Motorsports (edited 08 June 2002).]

 

[Forums Nazi]

Originally posted by Larry Bastanza:
The best explanation of your situation can be found here but I do not recall the URL. The Forums Nazi will stop by shortly and after he tells you "search is your friend" he may give you a hint.

Click here for the complete explanation.

It sounds like they are giving you a quote for an entire new transmission. That should not be necessary if you haven't driven very far on it.

 

[stevesp]

Unfortunately I am in the UK for a few weeks so I can't check the transmission number until I get back to the US.

However I have no idea when this broke, it drives exactly the same today as it did when I bought it. Could the snap ring have been broken for 6 months (about 2k miles) without any symptoms surfacing?

As I understand the main symptoms are either a grinding noise, having trouble going into gears, or the shifter moving as you accelerate/deaccelerate. My NSX does not have any of these issues.

Maybe I am just a wishful thinker, but isn't it possible it has been mis-diagnosed?

Steve

 

[stevesp]

Unfortunately I am in the UK for a few weeks so I can't check the transmission number until I get back to the US.

However I have no idea when this broke, it drives exactly the same today as it did when I bought it. Could the snap ring have been broken for 6 months (about 2k miles) without any symptoms surfacing?

As I understand the main symptoms are either a grinding noise, having trouble going into gears, or the shifter moving as you accelerate/deaccelerate. My NSX does not have any of these issues.

Maybe I am just a wishful thinker, but isn't it possible it has been mis-diagnosed?

Steve

 

[DaveJP]

Steve,
What dealer did you take your car to? I agree that it sounds strange that they diagnosed a broken snap ring when you have none of the tell-tale symptoms.

 

[stevesp]

Leith Acura

 

[Larry Bastanza]

If the snap-ring has broken, and possibly is jammed in the groove, it may still hold the countershaft stationary. If so, it may not exhibit any symptoms. However, if it is broken, it is a "timebomb".

The symptoms described are due to the countershaft "floating" back and forth IF the snap-ring is not holding it in place.

I would make sure it is really broken, before proceeding. Maybe a second opinion is in order.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[DaveJP]

Steve,
If you want to get a second opinion, I have the name of a certified Honda/Acura tech. at TAO Auto. E-mail me if you want his name and number.