I have a MY04 w/ only 6800 miles. The shifter is tough to engage between 1st and 2nd and sometimes between 2nd and 3rd. I have not heard the gears grind, I'm just not able to shift smooothly between gears. Is this the same problem as the gear grind I have read about on AP1's? Anybody else have this problem?

Any advice? I have read that changing to synthetic trans fluid helps a lot.

 

Notchiness between 1-2 shift and 2-3 shift is normal when the transmission is cold. When it warms up, it should be much much better. If you want, you can change out your transmission fluid out and put in the new Honda MTF version 2 fluid.

 

Pull the it harder.

 

this isn't the same issue as on the ap1s, but the following helped me *immensely*

1) changing to gm synchromesh

2) when shifting 1st to 2nd, keeping the shift lever pushed to the left during the movement.

the above virtually eliminated the dreadful 1-2 grind for me.

 

 

 

How fast are you shifting when you get grind? Cold fluid slows things down, but synchros only work so fast.

 

gm synchromesh is better than the new Honda MTF you guys think?

 

there is definitely "notchiness" and mechanical resistance going from 1-2, and (less so) 2-3. from all that ive read, its an accepted idiosyncrasy ... at the very least of the AP2

so what youre sensing is not atypical

 

Mine doesn't grind or notche at high rpm. At lower rpm I tend to shift really show to avoid the 1st to 2nd grind.