I've had my beautiful '03 suzuka S2k since October. It feels like the stick shift is not always smooth, particularly in the lower gears. The worst is down shifting into first (not downshifting to speed up, just downshifting into first as I'm coming to a stop). I think it was like this when I got it, and I assumed it would get better when I got more used to the gates, but if anything, it seems a little worse. It's not that bad, but I thought this car (and Honda's in general) was known for satin smooth shifting?

Another thing I've noticed now and then is that the gears seem to grind a little when down shifting when the clutch is fully depressed, this can't be normal??

Ideas??

One more thing, this is a certified used car. The Honda salesman told me they upgraded the trans in '03 to make it smoother, but I've never investigated to see if this is true. I could do a search on this site, but I'm too lazy and would prefer to have one of you smart guys just tell me.

 

Sounds normal to me. I have a '02 and it behaves in the same way. When the car is cold, the 1-->2 shift is usually not a happy one. It will sometimes grind. Once the car has warmed up, the gearbox "loosens up" very noticeably and the 1-->2 shift gets much better.

Downshifting into 1st in my car sounds the same as what you described. It usually helps if I apply gentle pressure for a few seconds until the stick slides into 1st. That seems to work better than simply jamming it into 1st.

I don't think shifting in the S2000 is particularly smooth. The shifts are short and quick, but you get more feedback than in most other cars. I haven't noticed this behavior getting any better with time. I'd have to agree that if anything, it gets a little worse. My car shifted beautifully when it was new, felt a little rougher at around 50k miles, and now has 74k miles. It still does the same thing.

For what it's worth, I now use GM Synchromesh Friction Modified transmission fluid, and it makes shifting smoother. But it doesn't totally eliminate this behavior. If you do a search for "2nd gear grind" you'll find a bunch of threads on this topic.

 

The "shifting into first" thing is pretty normal until the tranny warms up. If you use the search function for 'grind" and "notchiness" you'll come up with reading material that will take you well into June!

 

Thanks for the feedback. Let me be the first to flame myself <ouch> for somehow having missed this topic over the last several months I've been reading this board. As frank b said, the reading could probably take me into June. (June sounds so nice right now). In my own defense, though, I searched for smooth and shift and found very little. When I searched for grind, I find an encyclopedia.

 

Don't know if I am one of those "smart guys", but here you go.

First gear has a bit of a lockout to keep you from accidentally hitting it instead of third. A simple double clutch with a tap of the gas will get you in quite nicely while you are rolling, without straining the synchros. The shifting seems more "mechanical" than "satin smooth".

Grinds, move your seat up a notch and switch to the GMSFM.

For once, the salesman was right, well almost. In 02 they beefed up the tranny in the synchro department after complaints about grinds.

 

GM Syncromesh FM transmission oil did wonders when I changed it.
My gears are smooth now.

 

Yeah, that's true. The GM synchromesh (Friction Modified) makes a difference that I actually feel. I still get the occasional "notch" fron 2nd to 3rd, but it's minimal.
The S shifter feels like a rifle bolt. I like that!

 

The shifting in my 05 is wonderful. The 1>2 is so quick and short as I'm getting used to it I sometimes think I'm not all the way back in 2, but I am. The only shift I seem to miss is 5>4. About 1 in 10 times I end up in 6th or 2nd. It just takes time. I almost never down shift to 1st unless stopped. If I'm rolling at all 2nd works fine. I never get a hint of grind in any gear.
I love that rifle bolt analogy.

Steve