Let me start off with saying I have a 03 S2K w/ about 3500 miles on the clock. I've also been driving stick for over 3 years and believe I'm somewhat versed in its execution.

Over my ownership of the car I've noticed that shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear when the car is not at 3 bars or has not been driven for at least 10-15minutes results in a very noticeable notchy feeling. It's very hard to describe, but it's somewhat similar to rolling an object over another and feeling it lift a bit. It's not crunching sounding, but like two objects hitting together. This occurs very frequently, but on some occasions it's super smooth, like pushing through water. It happens at 3-6k RPMS, but rarely, if ever occurs when the car is wound out to about redline.

I also have a noticeable problem shifting into 5th and 6th gear when the car has not been driven around for at least 10 minutes. I can get the car in those gears, but not without some considerable effort. Why is so prevalent?

I take the time to let the car warm up before even going over 5500, but these problems occur no matter what.

On the other hand, once I have driven the car for a good 10 minutes, shifting is pretty damn smooth. It's just so prevalent that I'm almost hesitant to even shift into 5th and 6th unless I really have to. I also hate the feeling that is communicated to my body when I shift from 2nd to 3rd during this long "warming" period.

Have you all experienced this with previous model years? Or, is this something new to 03's and possibly just my car? Should I just go to the dealer?

Thanks for any comments.

--John

 

I don't know what you consider "considerable effort," but I will say that the times you are reporting sound about right to me. I don't drive my car until it has two bars, and I'll notice it takes another 5 minutes or so for the transmission to warm up. Personally, I don't think it's unusual, every manual I've owned taked longer to warm up the transmission, and I think that is simply because there is no process taking place that would rapidly heat it up like in the engine block.

I wouldn't worry about the time it takes to warm up, just be aware of it and don't abuse your tranny until it's ready to go. If it's not grinding then it sounds okay. The amount of pressure it takes to engage a gear could be the synchros not being warmed up, but I'm not sure. Unfortunately that is one of the things one has to feel for themselves to gauge the effort. When mines cold I notice it resists sliding into first, but again, I've noticed that on all my manuals to varying degrees (other cars include an rx7 and bmw).

Either way it doesn't sound like you'll explode or anything. I'm sure others will chime in with sound advice. Best wished for your tranny

EDIT*

PS - mines is also an '03 with a little less miles

 

njtripface: I've noticed from what's been previously posted that it seems quite common for that "notchy" feeling to occur in the trannys. Doesn't seem to be a serious problem - more of a quirk. Irritating to say the least but if it goes away after she warms up then your doing better than some. Does it shift OK when you push her hard? Try double clutching until she warms up if you haven't yet. Some members have reported smoother shifting with different lubes. Plenty of info on all that in the archives.

Sorry you're having concerns about your S. I just bought my 03 at the beginning of the year and I've not had anything but solid perfect shifts from mine. Hope your's smoothes out after a little more wear.

 

"Doctor, it hurts when I do this". "Don't do that".
Same advice for your car. Let it warm up.

 

I have a MY2002. It does take a little more effort to shift the gears when it is cold, but all the gears are about the same to me. Not like you said where 2nd to 3rd is more noticeable. I make sure I warm up my car properly before shifting aggressively. It only takes 10 minutes at the most of driving like a granny (I'm shifting at 3000-3500 rpm). It's worth it to take care of this car and warm it up properly.

I think you'd have to warm up any car, but it's just more prevalent in this car because the shifter is more precise than most cars.

 

Perfectly normal experience for this car. Just use a light touch and don't force it into gear.

Since you're in a temperate climate, you also might consider changing to GM's Synchromesh fluid, which most of us find results in much smoother shift action. The GM stuff seems not to like very cold weather, though, and it also starts degrading after 4 or 5 thousand miles, so frequent changes are necessary if you want to keep that butter-smooth feeling. (It takes several thousand more miles to degrade to the level of the stock Honda fluid though.)

 

On my MY2003, feel of the shifter is smooth and effortless even when cold. However, I only have 600 miles on it

 

I use Red Line MTL and it shifts much smoother now

 

Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate it. I'll have to look into the other MT fluids you all speak of.

As for warming up... I'll wait even longer than I usually do. Don't get me wrong, I never abuse the car when it's still warming up. I always keep it below 5500 until the car is 3 bars warm.

It's reasurring to know that others have experienced the same sort of incidents. Most of you are right when the car just takes more coaxing to get into gear when it's cold (no crunching), but after that it's very smooth.

--John

 

I have a 2001. Just as it takes anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 miles to breakin the engine, it also takes some time to breakin the transmission. Be patient and you'll be rewarded!