so apparently a lot of you ahve the 1st to 2nd grind at 4-5k+ RPM. it happens to me a lot, almost every time unless i really slow my shift down.

im not new to stick as every car ive owned has been one (Z32, E30M3, GS-R)

my car is an 02 but I bought it from american honda finance off lease, so the warranty is gone.

is there a recall on this that honda will fix? or should i just change my fluid to "GM Synchromesh friction modified?"

 

*shrug* I think it's a non-existent problem, at least from a technology side. My car never grinds, yes when it's cold I have to slow down gear engagement so that it won't grind but once the fluid reaches temp it never grinds. Honestly too one shouldn't be banging gears when the fluids are cold anyway.

If you're having problem with the gears the first case change the fluid. Old/worn fluid requires more care. Newer fluid is easier to shift. Personally I wouldn't warrant this as a defect at all, it's a quirk in the car and one that's pretty easy to adapt to.

 

There is no recall and with the warranty gone, why would Honda fix it? Even if you still had a valid warranty, they wouldn't do anything about it unless they can reproduce the problem for themselves and they would drive it in such a way that they won't make the car do this.
You may have experience with "stick", but were any of those other cars a close gated 6 speed? It takes a bit of getting used to row through these gears well.

 

you could:

Change the clutch fluid

Adjust the rod under the dash for the clutch to minimal freeplay

Change the trans fluid

While it is a problem, it is amplified by these things. I have cured quite a few 2nd gear grinds just by doing the above.

 

after i started rev matching from 1st to 2nd, i will not experience this problem.

let the rev's drop to the matching speed for the next gear before you throw it into 2nd.