My '02 has always had a very picky 2nd gear when the car hasn't warmed up yet (it shifts excellent after a few minutes of driving though). When cold, it will grind if I don't time my shift perfectly or go into 2nd very, very slowly. The Honda bulletin states that this is normal for '00-'04 models but doesn't talk about newer models. Using GM Synchromesh Friction Modified in the transmission has reduced the occurence of the grind but not eliminated it. My car now has 92k miles on it and it's still the same.

 

Yes, sometimes grinds at high revs if you not operate firmly and accurate.

And since I got the 85'Porsche 911 3.2 and its vintage 915 gearbox, where you had to 'draw' the exact path from second to third, now in the S2000 again it grinds sometimes when going from second to third'cause I tend to go to fifth...

 

why does in high rpm shit grinds tho.. syncroch don't match>? how can this be... i always thought it was the opposite (low rpm hard shift, ez on the high..) i have the same problem sometimes

 

my first to second shift at redline has to be a slow shift...not a granny shift but like a i have to delay a bit....i grinded my 2nd gear many times now...sooo embarassing...just makes you look like you cant drive.

 

I don't know that I'd call it a grind in mine, more of a hesitation. Like a bit of resistance halfway through the shift. It only does it when the tranny is pretty cold. And you shouldn't be taking it to the red at that stage anyway.

 

Mine (MY00 - 119800km) had it too, so I thought it was wear.
This weekend I changed transmission oil from Honda MTF to SE MTL-P.
And IMO it improved a lot!
1 - 2 very smooth.
2 - 3 very smooth.
Its not a PIA to shift back from 2nd to 1st while still moving.
Without double clutching, just a little pressure / time letting the syncro do its work, up to 10 km/h!
Even when cold it shifts smooth.
I am impressed with that oil.