Maybe I'm getting all paranoid about the various TSBs and whatnot, but I swear I'm having some odd behavior with my transmission (aside from the freakin' 2nd gear grind, which I got no less than twice on our most recent excursion, grrrr... But it NEVER happens when I need to demonstrate it, of course). Anyway, I figured I'd detail how I get the oddity to happen, and would appreciate it if any of you could either: (a) tell me this isn't a good way to drive, that it's normal and that I'm on crack, (b) try it out and see if it happens to you as well (or not).

Anyway, here's the situation:
1) Approach a stoplight/stopsign in 3rd gear (my tests always start going about 5k rpm in 3rd).
2) Brake and decellerate towards the intersection, but do not downshift (3->2->1) or use your clutch yet. Leave it in gear.
3) At around 2500-2000rpm, depress your clutch fully, then pull the shifter out of 3rd into neutral.

With my car, the pull out of 3rd offers quite a bit of resistance (feels like a dull "pop" out of gear as I pull it), about 20-30% of the time. When this happens, it's usually also more difficult than normal to get it into 1st from neutral.

Anyway, I'm basically trying to figure out if this the the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. With the 1->2 grind, the clutch chatter, and sometimes clunking into gear (generally 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, aside from what I mentioned above), this might be a more persuasive problem to prod First Texas into getting the TSBs done (in addition to fixing whatever this problem is, if it is one). I figure they'll save time/money if they do everything at once... *shrug*

Input appreciated,
Dave

P.S. Has everybody on the planet except me received their spark plug recall (excuse me... "product update campaign") notice?

 

For my 2 cents, all I can say is that your car is not the only one. I have a presumably unique flaw in my car. Like yours Ive heard of many people mostly describing the 1st to 2nd prob. My car on the other hand almost always makes a little grind when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. This problem was with me from the start and at first I hated it but now I could care less.
To aid this problem, I ve learned to shift at specific speeds for a better transition. For ex. 1st to 2nd was sort of rough at times so I found that 9mph instead of aprox 15mph is the best speed to shift at and no other for normal driving. When I shift like that the problem goes away. Basically I have a picky s2k. Im not saying it will work for your s2k to shift at specific speeds but in my car it worked.
and so far as the "stock clutch" all I have to say is

 

I'm bringing this thread back to life!

I have the same problem that BlueHS2000 has. My car makes a slight grind just about every time I shift from 2nd to 3rd. It's a very faint noise, but you can definitely feel it in the shifter.

This problem started about a month ago, and has steadily been getting worse. I now have to shift into 3rd by pushing on the stick much harder than any of the other gears.

I have an '00, fully stock w/ 38,000 miles. I'm definitely out of warranty.

Is this something I should just accept? How might I be able to fix it?

 

bump

 

Ditto here with the 2nd to 3rd "notchy" feeling in the shifter.

I tried to have Classic Honda fix it, but their tech said he couldn't reproduce the problem. (Next time I go back, I'm sitting in the car with him.)

I've been told just flushing the tranny fluid helps. Haven't tried so I can't comment.

-Deep

 

I didn't have this particular problem with the 2->3 shift, but my 1st->2nd shift would always make a "clunk" sound at parking lot speeds (I.E. <10mph). I also had the 2nd gear grind at high RPM's and recently went to battle with Honda of America. I got quick response after contacting the executive offices of Honda of America and everybody's attitude changed really quickly. Persistance pays off... I now have an '02 with fresh 2nd gearset and synchros and it shifts BEAUTIFULLY... Much better than when the car was new and no more grinds (I even took it to the AutoCross this past weekend and had no grind even at 9k rpm).