I recently acquired an Acura TL-S. The car was well kept by the previous owner with everything maintained and up to date. (Clutch, timing belt, water pump, etc.)The only issue is this part of the transmission. It shifts into gear fine all 6 of them and reverse. There is some play as seen from the video. Previous owner told me that it was possibly the bushings which I went and bought. I replaced the cable bushings and bought base bushings that will be coming in. When I replaced the cable bushings, I was moving and it around and was surprised that there was play. It’s not super loose that it moves on its own but with a little nudge it moves. A buddy has an accord v6 6speed and I couldn’t really move it either until I gave it more than a nudge. His accord seemed more “notchier” in a sense. Any ideas appreciated. Thank you!

 

Just curious, how bad is the 'play', to your discerning feel, in relation to the change lever sub-assy device you actually use to change gears with in the cabin?

versus moving the shift lever mechanism, at the transmission, by hand under the hood?

 

They seem pretty one to one. The first video I just showed how much the play is in one direction from the shifter. The second video shows how the shift lever looks when I move the shifter just like in the first video. The movements I am making with the shifter is just straight up and down. Not shifting it into any gears.

I wouldn’t say its really bad play just something I am hoping to stiffen up and make it feel normal-ish. If its not bushings then I guess it might be inside of the transmission. I hope this would not be the case.

 

It's possible.

When looking at the diagram below, #3 shift lever passes, outside of the case, through #12 dust seal.
The end of #3, inside the case, then passes through #1 shift arm and held by a #9 special bolt (8mm) not shown.
MT Shift Arm - 2008 Acura TL 4 Door TYPE-S KA 6MT (acurapartswarehouse.com)

Then it appears, the area the purple arrow points to above on the #1 shift arm, interacts (fits between), the area the red arrow points to below, of the #9 gear shift piece(6MT) inside the case. Perhaps it is this area that is worn? Or the 'tooth-like' area on the opposite side of #1?

The Helms diagram below shows a different perspective as to how all of the parts interact.

Otherwise, perhaps there is 'play' at the cable connections within the #3 change lever sub-assy?

 

I think it might be that shift based on what you’re showing me. I upgraded base bushings and cable bushings. It made it feel somewhat better. I also replaced the shifter assembly and it does feel notchier in a sense. Up and down is still loose but left and right is solid and notchy, relative to if you were sitting in the driver seat. Man for that one part would be a transmission overhaul.

 

Looking at the whole structure of the assembly, #1 shift arm and #9 gear shift piece(6MT) is all that is left to consider, unless I'm over looking something.
I'm wondering now if one or both of those components is substantially worn, to cause your noticeable degree of 'slop' / play, whether you would find any metal glitter, in the manual transmission fluid upon draining?

 

I changed transmission fluid with AC Delco Syncromesh Friction Modified. It did make the shifting feel smoother in a sense. I did not see glittery flakes or maybe I didn’t see closely, but grossly it was just brown I guess from use. I think at the 200,000 mile, I try to take my car to a transmission guy and see what they say. Opening up my trans seems like something I don’t wanna do by my novice self. Thanks for your recommendations!!!