Honda Accord Clutch Replacement in Kirkland, WA: Slipping Clutch at 228,000 Miles, Subframe Out

This 2013 Honda Accord LX (228,197 miles, manual) came in with a slipping clutch. Through the inspection plate we found worn clutch material. We replaced the clutch, flywheel, slave cylinder and rear main seal, and did an oil service while it was here.

The old clutch disc after it came out of the car. The technician found signs of worn clutch material.

The old pressure plate. Its friction surface shows discoloration.

More of the old parts that came out with the clutch.

Getting the transmission out

Getting the transmission out of this Accord meant taking much of the front end apart. We:

• Removed the front wheels, the battery and the air intake

• Removed the control arms, tie rods and sway bar links, and disconnected the steering column

• Supported the engine and removed the front subframe

• Separated the transmission from the engine and took it out

The work performed

Clutch replacement: $3,250–$3,950. With the transmission out:

• Removed the old clutch and flywheel

• Replaced the clutch slave cylinder

• Replaced the rear main seal

• Cleaned clutch friction material out of the transmission

• Installed a new LuK flywheel and a new LuK clutch kit

• Reinstalled the transmission and subframe and everything else we removed

• Bled the air from the clutch hydraulic system

• Serviced the transmission fluid with genuine Honda manual transmission fluid

Road test: the clutch worked as intended, and we checked the car for leaks with nothing found. More on our clutch repair service, and on manual transmission fluid service.

Oil service and air filter: $100–$170. Full synthetic 0W-20, a genuine Honda oil filter, a new engine air filter, a tire rotation and the multi-point inspection. See our oil change service.

New front wiper blades went on as well.

What it cost

The visit landed in the $3,400–$4,100 range, completed November 2026. Nearly all of it was the clutch job: about 9 hours of labor to get the subframe and transmission out and back in, plus the clutch kit and flywheel.

That range reflects a completed historical project, not a current quote.

Questions about this job

Why did the subframe have to come out for a clutch?

On this car, the transmission can’t come out with the subframe in place. We removed the control arms, tie rods, sway bar links and subframe, and supported the engine, before separating the transmission.

Was the flywheel resurfaced or replaced?

Replaced with a new LuK flywheel.

What else was replaced while it was apart?

The clutch slave cylinder and the rear main seal. The transmission fluid was also changed, and we cleaned friction material out of the transmission.

How did it drive afterward?

On the road test the clutch worked as intended, and there were no leaks on inspection.

Do you work on Hondas?

Yes, regularly. More on our Honda repair in Kirkland.

Prepared from our job records for this vehicle: the repair order and technician notes, the multi-point inspection with photos, the parts list and the final invoice.