3000 miles and loving it but 1 small problem that I'd like to know how bad it is and what you guys recommend. Second is definately the trickiest gear and I thought it would get better with age but I believe its actually gotten worse. Sometimes when going from 1st to 2nd I get that "notchy" feeling pushing back at me. This happens specially when the car is warming up (and no, I don't just turn it on and drive away, I always wait until the temp gauge is at least 1/4 way up) and is somewhat relieved by double clutching. I usually shift from 1st-2nd around 4krpms but it happens at all rpm ranges. Every other shift is silky smooth and down shifting into 2nd gear is smooth also.

I'm wondering if this could be a bad synchro? A bad 2nd gear or just ok.
It's never popped out of second gear like I read once in a thread a while ago but it does require some effort to put it into gear sometimes unlike all the others.

Should I take it right in to the dealer or just wait until its time for an oil change? Maybe some new synthetic gear oil will make it all better?

Thanks...

 

Just found the other thread:
http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80179
BTW my VIN is 033580

 

Doesn't this happen to many 6MTers? Grinding sound... It is supposed to go away after thousands of miles driving... Sorry, I don't own it... but good to see you cross posting to another similar thread. Wish someone could give you answers asap.

 

Thousands of miles? 10 Thousand? 100 Thousand?

 

How's about PM those ppl?


http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79412
http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77526

 

Thanks a bunch! I had not found those threads...

 

oscar,
I notice that same notchiness as well. I think It's gotten better ( 6500 miles). Either that or I've just grown accustomed to waiting for that split second until it finally clicks into gear. I think it is definetly related to the servos, and one member has had numerous problems with his tranny. I remember he posted a thread that said an Acura tech told him that the servo for first gear is a little too big and was causing his TL to pop out of gear.

All in all, I never notice any notchiness when it's completely warmed up and revs are around 3-4k rpm.

-Chad

 

The 1st-to-2nd grind seems to be a common characteristic of Acura 6MTs. The '04 TSX I had did it. Same with a friend's '03 RSX-S.

In the case of my TSX, I found that the tranny shifted much better at higher RPMs. I also found that making a conscious effort to pull straight back on the shifter with only light to moderate pressure helped quite a bit.

 

Same experience here, and I have over 8K on the car now. I have taken the car to 2 different ACURA dealers as well a Honda/Acura mechanic whom I have taken my Legend to for the last 10 years.

They all agreed there's nothing abnormal about it.

Oh well.

 

This is the exact same thing I have had and it's the reason I sold my 03 350Z and purchased my TL. My Z would get worse over time though and turn into constant grinding and this seems to be holding steady and possibly getting better. My Z used to kick back quite a bit as well. My TL has only kicked back 2-3 times. I would say you have the warranty, if you can deal with the problem and it's not truly grinding all of the time, wait until it's a real issue and have the tranny replaced.

I have found that if I put the car into second and then back out (say at a light or intersection), my next shift into second from 1st is usually smooth. This is only necessary when it's cold.

I am also thinking of going to Redline synthetic, since it's cured problems for me in the past.

Keep us informed and good luck!

 

I'm one of the oringnal posters, I'm getting my Second Gear and Syncros replaced, parts should be in this week. 3-4 day install! Glad to see that I'm not alone. I have seen several others with this post. It started with grinding (even with clutch fully depressed), then graduated with popping out of gear. As far as I can tell it keeps getting worse. I was taking a corner in second gear and all of a sudden it popped of gear, I could have easliy lost control. This kind of sucks. I'm 19 and they won't let me have a loaner either (probaly have my dad pick up the car and I'll drive it).

 

I have a 2003 CL with the 6 speed manual, and it too has the dreaded 1-2 notchiness. The only way that I have found to get around this is by hesitating slightly in neutral between the two gears.