I've had the S for nearly a month now and in that time I've managed to mis-shift several times both during vigourous driving but also when easy driving and short shifting.

Tends to be hitting 1st when going for 3rd from 2nd gear; not good when driving enthusiastically as on one occasiion I hit first at full chat from 2nd and am wondering if I have possibly done some damage due to a possible mechanical over-rev I'm planning to have the car looked at for this reason.

I had a civic for a whole 5 years and can only remember mis-shifting once in that time (short shifting to 5th and got 3rd).

I find the box on the S requires a very precise hand; The gearstick seems less convinced to spring to the centre (going accross the gate) than on other cars I've driven and thus the cross gate mis-shifts.

Also the box feels a tad notchy compared say to the Civic which was very precise and slick.

1st to 2nd on my S is definately notchy; is this how they are in general?

Is it just me being rubbish? There's a good chance of this

I am known for my paranoia with cars and hearing sounds or imagining they feel different to last week etc Since the potential mechanical over-rev (mis-shift as above) I feel there's less power and less of a kick at 6k, also I'm now hearing a faint kind of whistle when I accelerate, even on very mild throttle opening; this may have been there all along (could this be induction sound?).

Am I being paranoid here? I feel I need to have the car looked at for piece of mind; What's the way to go here? Dyno check? or just general Honda dealer check?

 

How the hell can you get 1st instead of 3rd?

Sorry but it sounds like you are just rubbish or there is a genuine issue with your gearbox. The gearbox is like a bolt action rifle to me and I love getting back into my S after driving a POS with a porridge box.

 

Mmmm.

On an 07 car it should be under warranty? Get it checked out for piece of mind. The gearbox is a little notchy, its not the smoothest out there but it is precise.

Otherwise its your shifting!!!!! Its a tight small gate, may take a little more time! Oooh misses.

 

LOL; Likley my shifting is shocking need to go back to school perhaps

As you say nomadic I may need a bit more time to change my habits from the wide gated Civic.

I'll have Honda take a look at the thing just in case.

 

I'm amazed you can hit first instead of third! mine doesn't like first gear when on the move.

 

Try fitting a Rick's gear knob.
They are bigger, heavier and more importantly sit lower.
I find my arm can now lie on the centre console while changing gear so it remains more relaxed, stable and precise.
The lower leverage gives a slightly heavier feel and seems to self centre more strongly.
Go slower and allow the spring to self centre before choosing the next gear

 

Very strange, the lever is sprung to sit in the gate between 3rd and 4th. Sounds a lot to me like you might be gripping too hard, try relaxing and shifting with finger and thumb only.

Have it checked out if you're concerned and also if you've had a mechanical over rev.

Some reports that the engine twisting on the mounts under load can make shifting more difficult and some say that it can be reduced with an Engine Torque Damper. I'm not sure about this as I don't have one yet.

 

Yeah sounds like you are trying to hard, I literally flick the gearstick into gear. And this is a 113k mile gearbox, still pinsharp

 

yep, paranoia

I have block shifted from 6th to 4th on the motorway at 70ish, missed and hit 2nd

Handily, I didn't get the clutch all the way up and managed to dump it in again at about the time that the revs hit the limiter... Not something that i would reccommend doing, but 9,000rpm in 2nd is only about 5 or 6 mph less than the speed that i was doing.

Red line in 2nd is 67mph or thereabouts. 1st is 42mph. *IF* you got the clutch all the way up and were doing the full 67, your engine would have done (at most) 14,350 rpm. This is not great and the problems are the shock loading of components and the engine spinning soo fast that it overcomes the efforts of the lubrication system. If you short-shifted, then not as bad.

As for the funny noises, the S has thousands of them - I really wouldn't worry, it's pretty bomb proof as long as there's enough oil in it!

 

Yup I've done the 5th/6th to 2nd when aiming for 4th a couple of times.

Did it once when I had some Mazda right on my arse aswell I have to change lane and let him past... the engine made some dirty noise of obviously the car jolted a fair bit.

I was highly embarassed and haven't repeated the mistake since!