So I am still trying to figure out if this is normal or not. I feel a notchiness..or roughness when shifting gears. Its most noticable going into 2nd and 3rd. Its not alot, but there is some resistance there...so it doesnt just slide in 100% smoothly. In comparison, 4-5th, and 5-6th ..are silky smooth..and i feel no resistance at all. But 1-2...is notchy. If I drive with windows up and radio off, you can actually hear the shifter shake or clunk when i switch gears.

I also find that if my shifts are completely perfect and at the exact perfect rpms..it will sometimes slide in like butter so I am thinking it is somehow related to the syncros. But I am not sure.

Talked to the dealer and they said...give your tranny some time to get worked in, and even then you will still have a bit of notchiness. They said they are having the same problem on the RSX.

So anyone else feeling this resistance or are your shifts sliding in smooth as silk?

 

Shift feel is something that is impossible to quantify and difficult to even describe. I can only say that "notchiness" and "roughness" are not terms that come to my mind when the subject is the TSX 6sp. - one of the best stick shifts I have ever driven. There is supposed to be some friction - you don't want the shifter flopping around lifelessly like overcooked spaghetti. I find it to be perfectly-weighted with great tactile feel. For a better example of "notchiness", try the 6sp in the '04 Maxima SE.

Cheers,

Jaeger

 

My gears are notchy too. Dealer had no comment on whether it was normal or not.

What exactly is the perfect RPM to shift for each gear? I know gear ratios come into play here but I do not know how to figure the perfect RPM for shifting.

 

Sorry, what I meant was when I let the rpms fall the perfect amount between shifts so that the syncros do not need to work it slides right in.

 

fdl,

I had the same issues you described, and after 8000miles they still feel the same. It is only between 1-2 and 2-3. Personally I think you are feeling the synchros doing their job. I have not mentioned it to the dealer. Let me know if you find anything out.

 

Yes you dont want the shifter flopping around lifelessly. So I would expect some resistance in the form of a smooth elastic pressure...if that makes sense. But what I am talking about is roughness or notchiness...like the shifter is passing over a couple small lumps or something. If I hold the shifter gently in my hands when I shift and get this notchiness you can hear the shifter vibrate or clunk as it goes in. Its quite audible.

So Jaeger...you experience none of this? Try shifting slowly and maybe let the rpms drop a little too much and see if you feel it.

 

i have it too... i think its just normal. but i would give it some time b/c i don't think its hurting the car itself. if it gets better, then great, and if it continues, have the dealer look at it later.

 

I think one day I may go test drive another 6mt..see if it does it as well.

 

I have an '05 6MT which I got in late June which I love. I've only put 2700 miles on it so far. My one issue is that I find the shifter notchy--it makes an audible clunk at the top or bottom of the shift motion, almost as if it slides in too freely. More annoying is the shift into second which often (not always) feels rough.

My recollection of the '04 that I test-drove is that it shifted as smooth as silk.

There were several posts on this problem in the summer of '03 with some people saying this was normal, some saying it would go away after further break-in, and some saying the dealer should adjust or replace the synchros or cables.

Do people still have this problem? Has anyone found a solution? Or does it just go away? By the way, this car has never been back to the dealer (i.e., no other real probs so far, altho as the weather gets colder, it may be developing the windshield/headliner crunching problem).

 

I have pretty bad notchy/rough shifts from 2->3. Going through the neutral zone, it feels like metal is rubbing up against metal. Weird thing is the 3->2 shift or 4->3 shift doesn't have the same feeling. I also get the "thump" sound finishing shift into 1, 3, 5.

1->2 isn't as bad, but still notchy.

I've brought it to the dealer, and they say it's normal, but from my experience, the dealer doesn't know sh*t.

 

100% with Jaeger.

And I think whatever you feel, fdl, is indeed just the synchro in work. But won't hurt to test out another 6MT just to compare the feel.

 

Replace tranny fluid w/ honda OEM and 1 qt. Pennzoil/GM synchromesh.

 

I change the manual tranny fluid every 10k. It won't hurt the transmission, and it feels smoother after I do that It's also cheap when I do it myself (~$10)

 

My tranny is still very smooth. Try replace the tranny fluid, it should help. JeffTSX suggested some Motul 2-stoke oil... I can't remember what exactly. Jeff, can you tell me again? or It will be great if you can arrange a group tranny fluid change.

 

fdl, i totally have this issue, although for me its always in 1-2 shift, never anywhere else. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it is a physical roughness of the shift motion along with an audible yet brief crunch sound. Wonder what it is, and do you guys really think tranny fluid would be of any use?

 

I too have this issue and it sort of bothers me. I liked the feel and sound of the shifter on 99 Civic Si much better. The Civic and the TSX both have a bit of the crunchiness between 1 & 2 that others have discussed, but the Civic had that wonderful "snick snick" sound that I find so rewarding, and the shifts felt slightly more precise. I've driven non-Honda manuals before so I will certainly not say the TSX is bad; it's probably better than 99% of what is out there; but the sound kind of takes something away from it for me.

 

the lil clunk is normal. it comes from the shift box and because this car uses shifter cables and not rods. if many of you upgraded from a civic/integra. you will notice this noise. cable shifters are sloppy and is not a direct link from the shifter stick to the tranny.

if anyone is having notchy 2nd gear, it's normal too. due to the fact that the 1st and 2nd gear syncro's triple cone type. This makes a stronger syncro. One thing i noticed was the im started getting grinding noise from the tranny at 350km and at 560km, and is starting to get really notchy to the point of grinding now (1500km).

I will check for recalls and bulletins at work. I wonder if dan matin has had the chance to look for updates for anyone here?

 

:resurrection:

After some time (22k miles), I'm pretty sure this has to do with dealing with the beefier synchros on 2nd.

 

My 1-2 shift has smoothed out significantly over time. its all good now except for that nasty drop in rpms from 1 to 2

 

I talked to customer relations over at Honda Canada yesterday
They advised me that the true break in period is 15,000km/9375miles. At this time, if you are still experiencing problems. Proper warranty meaures will be taken.

 

I used to have the notchy 2nd gear. Even the technician at the dealer who test drove wiht me in the car said it was notchy. That was at about 3000miles. Now I'm at 8000miles, the notchiness is gone.