I just bought my car used last Saturday.........MY01 New Formula Red. After driving a day or two I noticed that the 3rd gear synchro is not like the other gears. I can actually feel the gear engage. There is no grinding but I always can tell that I am shifting to 3rd. Is this normal for a s2k? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Yea I just got an MY04 about a month ago and it has that same feeling going into third, almost like you feel the gear engaging.

 

My recently purchased MY02 does the same thing! No grinding, but you can really feel the 3rd gear engage. Other gears do not feel this way. Is this common?

 

Consider replacing the tranny fluid. The synthetics can give a smoother feel, sometimes.
Its pretty cheap to do, and often does the trick.

Don't know about the '04, but I'd say your warranty should cover it. Take it to the dealer, but just track what they did and what fluids they use. Some have been caught using the incorrect fluids.

Good luck.

 

Your not the only one RickFriend. I get the exact same thing as you on my '01. The MTF fluid change idea is a good one. This transmission is picky when it comes to fluid; and it really loves to have fresh fluid in it.

 

yes changing the fluid does wonders for the 3rd gear issue. I was actually getting a grind on occasion especially when the fluid heated up. Now that i've changed it happens less frequently. It now also engages more smoothly

 

My car did it from day one. I call it the 3rd gear notch. Its normal, I asked the same thing the day I bought it. I haven't had a problem with it so far.

 

It's normal. You can feel it in other gears as well. You can feel how it goes into gear, especially on slow shifts or during "normal" driving.

Getting your fluids changed is always a good idea, though! After a tranny and diff change, my shifts were much smoother than before.

 

I'm glad it is not just mine. Mine came in off a lease. Thanks much for the info.

 

Yep me too. Did it from day one. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd I can feel it "catching" just a little bit but enough to bug me. Doesn't always happen. Sometimes If I accelerate a little hard it doesn't happen. Still it bothers me. Car has 1100 miles. Is this gonna go away? Should I change my tranny fluid?
All the other gears are fine. Going from 4th to 3rd is fine too. It's not the synchro? Had the dealer take it out and of course they claimed they didn't notice it. Sure would like to fix it though...