You'll notice a considerable improvement in shift quality in the first three or four gears if you double clutch until the trans is up to full operating temperature. Works going up or down gears. You just have to give those synchros a little help.

Mike Hollinger
Atlanta

 

Appreciate the info, but my grind (it won't go into gear and I immediately release my pressure on the shifter, doubleclutch and then go into 2nd) happens even when the tranny is completely warmed up. It seems to do it about every 50 times or so when I try a hard 1st to 2nd gear shift at redline.

I guess there is a chance that I just get sloppy every once in a while and don't fully depress the clutch before grabbing second?!?!

 

Quikag,
I think you are just slightly missing it clutch wise, as you're thinking now.

I've definitely done the same thing occasionally and have actually narrowed it down to two issues. One, early on, I found that taking my seat forward just one click meant a big difference in doing the shift entirely right from 1st to 2nd. Remember, this is the hardest shift requiring the fastest coordination when hitting redline...it gets there the quickest.

I also kick myself every once in a while when I do it again almost at the same place everytime. It's how I know it's a concentration thing also. There's a spot on my way home from work...mentally more tired than any other drive time...where I'm going over a railroad track. It crosses the road at a strange angle. Many people have launched into the air going over the other way and there are lots of pavement 'scars' on both sides, so I always come to an almost complete stop when crossing. It's up hill and really no 'safety issues' or radar roadside spots for cops so it is a perfect place to wind out the gears...at least into fourth. Every once in a while, I get to thinking of something else as I'm going over that spot and I catch myself grinding the gears from 1 to 2nd due to not getting the clutch all the way down in time or not getting the gear seated before I start letting out the clutch (usually this). Basically, poor concentration. I've had the car for over three years and vtec it up there all the time on a daily basis. I drive it like I stole it, but I have the dealer's good crew poor over it and pay extra to double check everything, like compression and brakes and various early fluid changes. In this area, I'm sure it's me. :-(

 

No, the clutch delay has nothing to do with it. That only prevents the clutch from engaging too fast if you decide to dump/sidestep it.

 

Whats up with all this clutch delay.....ive had my 04 almost 2 yrs and have never
had the first problem shifting. Its smooth as butta no grinding no nothing. And
yes i drive it hard ....well some of time anyway.

 

I notice both of those issues on all three of tbe 05 models I drove (including the one I bought).

#1 is normal for this transmission -- it's the slight shock of engaging the gear when the transmission has just been spinning. We probably feel this due to a unique combination of things in the S2K transmission which make the input shaft and lay shaft spin longer than on other cars. I have not experimented, but this effect should go away if you wait longer after pushing in the clutch before putting it in gear. Technically, if you waited long enough after pushing the clutch in, and let the input and lay shafts stop spinning, then there should be no shock.

#2 also seems to be typical. The fact that it goes away after the fluid warms up indicates the 2nd gear synchro is just a little more finicky, for whatever reason (could be a manufacturing or design issue).

Craig