rondog

iTrader: (1)

Well, now that it has dipped down to the teens in temprature over here, and I recently purchased the 6 speed for the first time, I'm just trying to find out if this is normal...

after starting the car up, I drive off nice and smoothly, but the 1-2 shift feels like as the shifter passes into 2nd, it's touching something thats moving, resulting with a slight grind which goes away once it sits in gear. Like its touching moving gears for a split second while passing thru the gate, ya know? Nothing serious and as the car warms up, it tends to do it less, like 1 out of 3 times, but i still feel it here and there. WHat do you guys think? 3rd feels normal as do the rest of the gears. Almost feels like the slower I shift the more I feel the gears touching, but i don't want to have to shift quickly everytime. I keep the rpms as low as possiuble too, to minimize any riding of the clutch. I've been very cautious with this tranny, and I can faithfully say I haven't done anything even remotely harmfull to the trans.
No way I will know if it's the weather until it warms up.

BigLizard

The manual cars I've owned have all done that during cold weather. 5spd and 6spd.

The tranny is still cold and doesn't really warm up until later when the engine and tranny are both running at operating temps. I'm sure you notice that the sound fades when the tranny has been driven a lil more (like you said 1 out of 3). Just wait till spring and then summer comes. I'm sure you won't hear it any more.

rondog

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I don't want to schedule the dealer appoiuntment and give up 2 days of work to have them tell me it's normal. And actually, there is no noise at all, its just a slight vibration felt thru the shifter. Still love the car, I'm actually parking it in the garage with the boiler room door open to heat up the whole garage, see if that has an effect on operationg temprature then take it for a test drive. thanks for the feedback.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Normal, although it doesn't get cold enough down here for it to happen to my CLS. However other sticks I owned while I lived in NYC did it.

123456SPEED

Normal, my first CLS did it some, my current CLS does not. It does get a little notchy when it's cold out. just needs to warm up.

Zippee

Even in the summer the 1-2 shift can be stiff until the gear oil warms up.

Happened with every stick shift I have owned. Just take it easy for a few miles and don't worry about it.

GreenMonster

Normal... Search for notchiness (40 threads) or notchyness (12 threads) for more info

It was worst when my car was new, and better the 2nd winter (13K miles)... I don't seem to notice it much now, but the notchiness is still there, more so when it's below 15 degrees... not so much when it's warm out.

I'm thinking it might be time to switch to the Honda reformulated manny tranny fluid or something like Redline MTL...

When it's really cold out like last thursday and friday, it feels like I'm stirring molasses when shifting... but like molasses, it's gets easier once it warms up...

rondog

iTrader: (1)

Ohh, so thats what notchiness is, I'll do a search, I was looking around for grinding, even tho it felt like something else. thansk everyone, i feel like such a noob...

GreenMonster

Yeah, you probably just need to get used to shifting it in the cold... If you don't shift all the way into 2nd (because you hit the notch), you'll grind... but that happens with any MT. If you dont' find the gear, you'll grind 'em...

I don't feel the notchiness as much anymore mostly because I'm used to it (53K miles and over 4 years of daily driving).

edit: It must be nice to be a for the second time

MSW 6SP

im going to switch to synthetic tranny fluid, i heard it helps in these winter months

jproy

Switch to the new reformulated MTF. It cured all my shifting problems. For the record, my 6MT did this when cold always.

amashraf

Just get the new Honda reformulated manual transmission fluid. I live in Minnesota, and it's been ungodly cold here. But, since I switched to the new fluid, I don't experience the grinding at all. My old Acura did this as well. Get the new fluid, and see the difference!

AcUrAge703

its normal....i have that everynow and then when i dont let the car fully warm up...sometimes its hard to shift into 2nd and i get the little grind when i hit third...but once the car is warm i dont have that problem...always happens on cold mornings....normal warm days....no problems...i use to think that was a problem but AZ assured me its not...

fsttyms1

Its normal. Switch to the new fluid and it should take care of it. It did for me.
Also once the trans oil gets warm it should go away.

CLASSYCLS

Yeah Rondy its normal, dont sweat it. I am hoping I got the time this weekend for a little painting! Still havent forgoten!

dalostpinoy

yo. mine grinded in the cold minnesota weather till i switched to synthetic 3 months ago.

no more grinding....

rondog

iTrader: (1)

dude, call me, I'm going to a friends place to get the new exhaust and suspension put in, you should come thru...

All Mine

Nobody uses GM Syncromesh anymore? I remember that used to be hot shit.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

The new Honda fluid is basically the same stuff.

xxpnoiboi03xx

wow this thread helped a lot. i was experiencing the same problem, and wasnt sure if it was the tranny or what. i didnt expect it to be the weather. it would do that notchiness at 2nd and/or 3rd gear. but disappears after 5-10 min's of driving. i wanted to ask about this but wasnt sure how to ask. damn wisconsin weather! arg!