Lately, I been having trouble shifting into 1st and 5th gear. Instead of being buttery smooth, I feel a bit of resistance when shifting....almost like I am pushing against some ridges. Not sure how else to explain it but it's just not that smooth. This happens about 50% of the time and only in 1st and 5th gear. Has anyone experience something similar?

 

Synchros. Double clutch.

 

How old is the fluid?

 

I think that it is sad if you are forced to double clutch when your transmission has synchros. The synchros should be built to last the life of the car or at least 100k. on of my cars synchros failed at 30k. Is it to be expected with any modern transmission that you will eventually have to doubleclutch every gear?

 

How many miles on the car and how hard do you drive it? It may be time for a fluid change, and if you do that you may want to consider going to a synth or synth blend MT fluid.

If you hammer on your transmission, it wouldn't be surprising that it's not shifting like new anymore.

 

I also say try getting the fluid changed, at least as a first try.

As for needing to double-clutch, on one old car, I completely lost the 2->3 syncro, and never had to double-clutch. Once you learn to feel the shift, once the revs match, it just slips right in. Well, I was able to do it -- my wife couldn't.

 

i think it'll be time for me to change the mtf too. i'll do it during my next oil change.

there have been times when my 2-3 shift has been notchy.

i have about 18000kms right now.

 

only 5500 miles and I almost never push the car. But I have to say that 90% of the driving is in city driving with lots of stop and go. The MID told me to get my first oil change at 3200 miles. I don't double clutch but I do rev match my down shifts. I share this car with my gf who been driving MT for 4 years almost (I am a newb though and mostly drive on weekends). I notice shifting into 5th is notchy mostly in the beginning but after driving for 20mins, it becomes alot smoother. Also, if it's my driving habits that's at fault, shouldn't the most used shifts be messed up?? Like 2nd to 3rd instead of 4th to 5th? I am hesistant to bring this into the dealer since this doesn't happen ALL the time.

 

I would still recommend bringing it up just so there is a record

 

i get the same thing going into first in my '06 6MT with around 5500 miles. I feel some resistance going into first sometimes, exactly like you describe it- like going through a gate. this is my first manual car too, so i thought it was normal- maybe not?

 

What about 5th gear??

 

haven't noticed it going into 5th while driving- when the car is stopped, and i go through the gears for no real reason, i go into the reverse gate instead of up to 5th sometimes, but that's just me messing around. I'll start paying closer attention; maybe i'm still too caught up in the fun of shifting through the gears to notice it on 5th?

 

Do you do this when the engine is running? If you do, then you are wearing the clutch for no apparent reason. Stop messing around

 

can't see how it wears out the clutch since there's no friction on the plate- it's probably not great for the spring or throwout bearing, but the friction plate will wear down long before i do damage to the other components- anyway i really only do it when i'm at a light and the Schumacher techno song comes on the iPod.

 

Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but don't shift into first if you're moving. Other gears are different.... Although, I am starting to get a bit of "notchiness", mostly in the 1->2 shift, I think.

I had my first gear grind (well, except for the times where I really messed up in pressing the clutch), when shifting from 1 to 2, I think it was. I was trying to go faster than usual, so I was really pushing it, and yanked it into gear. It went, but complaining all the way. Ugh. Now I have to figure out if I just didn't have the clutch pressed all the way or just went to fast or something?

Aside from that, I was thinking it was overall better, after having gotten the MTF changed.

 

I do have to shift to 1st when moving at like 1 or 2 MPH but it should be fine. The car doesn't jerk or anything and if I switch to 2nd instead, the car starts to vibrate and complain. Today, 5th gear was pretty smooth but just 2 days ago, I could barely get into 5th. Weird.

 

i had issues early on not getting it into 5th, but that was because i kept hitting the side of the gate, once i changed how i hold the shifter, that went away.

 

When was the last time you had an engine oil change?

I noticed that my shifter was getting a little notchier after 3000 miles with the same oil. I just changed it this past weekend, and the shifter now feels infintely smoother.

I sincerely hope you wouldn't have to change the transmission fluid after only 5500 miles. I'm at about 6000 miles, and after the oil change my shifter feels better than new (i.e. broken in).

 

Technique is everything. When it comes to knowing how to properly drive a MT car and prolong its life, a little bit of education and understanding of how a MT actually works can go a very long way. It's almost like walking around in a darkened room. You kind of have to feel your way around. There really is quite a bit of "mechcanics" working all in sequnce when you are up-shifting & down-shifting. Most good mechanics can tell alot about the "driving style" of the driver by examining their MT system. Rounded-off gears and burnt clutch assemblies don't lie.

I learned how to drive a MT with worn bearings and no syncros. The only way to drive it and not break it was to feel the gears and catch them with timing, not slam them with muscle. Not to be to "Eastern" here but the goal is to become more one with your MT system and make it a transmitter of HP from the engine to the wheels. In other words focus more of the engine performance and how the car is responding rather than a hand-on-stick fixation. A good test to benchmark where you are at it on the learning curve/skill level is to be able to downshift SMOOTHLY from 5th down to 2nd all within a 500-700 rpm. Practice is the path to skill. Shifting your MT should be a natural process not a forced one. If not you will find yourself either trying to explain to the mechanic how all those metal shavings ended up on you new car's tranny magnet or telling anyone who will listen what a POS tranny Honda makes. Either or it all adds up to a lot of money.

 

For 1st gear, it's because you are now more used to your car that you are shifting quicker. When stationary, try pressing the clutch down for 2 seconds and then going into first.

For 5th gear, it also happens to most TSX/JDM Accords. When you shift from 4th to 5th, it's smoother when you push the gearstick up and right in one action. If you push it up-right-up, it is much more notchy.

 

Get a oil change... smoother throttle... :p

 

engine oil has no effect on the transmission when the clutch is pressed in.