It really irks me that when I read about the pre-'04 owners who had the 1-2 gear grind/pop problem and got the problem addressed, why the exact same symptoms in the '04+ are not getting the same attention. I took mine in at 2K miles to have them look and they agreed, yep 1-2 and 2-3 were a little strange when the car was cold. But after it warmed up, it went away. But during the really cold days, it took 20 minutes for it to completely go away and me get my butter shifting back. I'm curious and a little irritated why the exact same symptoms from the earlier years are still prevalent in a lot of the newer models, and why the TSB isn't extended to us. My dealer wouldn't even 'on the record' suggest a different gear fluid.

Discuss...

 

Just like your motor oil, your transmission oil needs to heat up to properly lubricat your gears. Just take it easy, and shift slowly and there shouldn't be a problem. I think all S2000's have a bit of a hard shifting early in the morning.

 

I think the AP1's had the 1-2 grind even when everything was fully warmed up. I know when I drive around just after starting, I would short shift or double clutch to avoid the 1-2 and 2-3 grind. I've never had a problem after the tranny is warmed up.

 

I don't get any grind. It sticks a little more, but that's about it.

 

....there is no problem with 1-2 shift. If it grinds it's driver error. You have to be able to adapt to your car. When it's cold you change your shifting style until it warms up. The driver has to adapt to the conditions of the car.

 

When it's very cold, it sometimes seems the only way to avoid the second gear grind would be to shift 1 -> 3.

 

It happend to my 04 and it happens to my 05 every now and then. It's embarrasing sometimes especially when you have someone in the car and you're trying to gun it past someone at a redlight. Then they hear a grind and you seem like a bad driver.

So far, the only solutions I've found (but yet to do) are to raise the engagment point of the clutch just a little bit. The extra time helps that problem. Also, if you shift at the redline instead of just below, your chances of grinding are less (i.e. wait until the light in the red portion flashes, not before). Some have mentioned switching the tranny fluid out with the GM sychromesh stuff, but I've heard other claims that certain fluids are bad b/c we have carbon fiber synchros in every gear (minus reverse). So, I'll wait for someone else to try that one first.

 

mine doesn't grind as much as it used too. perhaps it's still breaking in.

 

Just shift slower until the tran heats up.

 

2,100 miles on my '05 and I've never had a 1-2 grind. It's just a little notchier when cold.