Third gear not fully engaging/popping out...

[aki]

To forewarn you, it took 5 trips to the dealership to get them to detect the problem. Two of those times I had the transmission specialist take my car home and drive it back for his 40-mile roundtrip morning commute. I wanted it fixed, bad. My car was fixed at Honda of Berkeley, which has great service, love how they treat customers (avoid Honda of Oakland if you're in the bay area).

I think the most important thing is going to a dealership you trust. Honda Oakland is a 15 min walk away, but I couldn't take their horrid attitude. And after the fix, my tranny is still notchy but I haven't grinded even *once* in the past 2-3 months. Whereas before I grinded at least once a week.

[SiRyan]

^^ I need to drop by there some time to get my 3rd gear checked out?

[blanz]

Originally Posted by Paradox Lost

I'm relatively new to Honda, and I hope I'm not bringing up a worn-out issue here, but prior to purchasing my 07' Si, I was driving my brother's 05' RSX Type-S I noticed that when the car is still somewhat cold, it wouldn't completely shift into third gear, and the shifter would sort of pop out. Basically, I really had to make sure it was in third before letting off the clutch. I brought this issue up to my brother, and he basically mentioned that Honda's/Acura's have basically developed a reputation for this, so I didn't think much of it.

When I bought my Si, RIGHT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, it popped out of third the same way on the RSX. I've had the car for about a month now, and it's happened two other times, but it's grinded those times because I let off the clutch without realizing it wasn't fully in third. Is this naturally occurring on the tranny, and I should just make sure it's all the way in third, or should I bring up this issue with the dealer? Thanks in advance. :)

EDIT: N/M, posting this thread yielded one in which my question was basically answered. For some reason, and I feel silly mentioning this seeing as I am by no means new to message boards, I can't figure out where the delete thread button is.

I've gotten so gun shy of the popping out/grinding gear in third that I now pound the shifter into third every time. You simply cannot go from second to third gear in a lazy manner and expect it to catch every time (F*ck!).
I've got an '07 with 450 miles and I'm praying that the syncro's wear in and eliminate this annoyance.
Makes it real scary when you miss third reving at 7000 rpm!!!

[Paradox Lost]

Originally Posted by aki

To forewarn you, it took 5 trips to the dealership to get them to detect the problem. Two of those times I had the transmission specialist take my car home and drive it back for his 40-mile roundtrip morning commute. I wanted it fixed, bad. My car was fixed at Honda of Berkeley, which has great service, love how they treat customers (avoid Honda of Oakland if you're in the bay area).

I think the most important thing is going to a dealership you trust. Honda Oakland is a 15 min walk away, but I couldn't take their horrid attitude. And after the fix, my tranny is still notchy but I haven't grinded even *once* in the past 2-3 months. Whereas before I grinded at least once a week.

Yeah, it seems like the kind of problem that most dealerships wouldn't really fix or closely look at on the first try, mainly because it's a problem that doesn't occur all the time- it really needs to be road tested for a decent period of time in order to get a feel as to precisely what's occurring. As for dealerships, I live on the peninsula, and I've been going to Mike Harvey Honda- so far, great customer service, I'm getting clearly explained diagnostics, they're paying great attention to my concerns, and they're following up in a timely fashion- no complains whatsoever, but I'll consider Honda of Berkeley in the event that things don't work out here.

Originally Posted by blanz

I've gotten so gun shy of the popping out/grinding gear in third that I now pound the shifter into third every time.

Makes it real scary when you miss third reving at 7000 rpm!!!

Same here- I invest an additional degree of care when I shift into third, and to tell you the truth, just doing this each time is an effective way to prevent the problem for really surfacing again, as it seems that you simply can't shift into third with the same ease as you could other gears. Still, as I mentioned earlier, I would much rather prefer a brand new car to behave like a brand new car, and to not feel necessary to device methods around clearing defects that shouldn't be there in the first place. And yes, when sport shifting out of second to third, I just get really nervous now.

Originally Posted by penguix

that doesn't make since to me because 1) I'm 99% sure (I used to work at a dealer) that the tranny is filled at the factory and not the PDI (after all, they get driven off the trucks and to the gas station before the PDI) and 2) I don't see how you can overfill the tranny case when there's a fill hole on the side (it would simply spill out immediately if you put in too much...)

Good points- I'll bring it up to them when I head down there again- thanks. :)

[2006BlackSi]

ya my 06si has same problem never seems to go right into third i always have to stay on the clutch to make sure its in most of the time u can feel it but it sucks when i get lazy n just assume its in

[wannapar3]

Originally Posted by Paradox Lost

Okay, so I went ahead and sent it into the dealer today, although for a different problem. But I went ahead and had them check out the issue with third gear anyway. So I get a call from them a few hours later, going over the inspection, and regarding the tranny, my service provider asked if I had the transmission serviced. I said no, and he proceeded to tell me that whoever PDI'd the car when it first came into the dealership put in gear oil (I think he said gear oil) instead of transmission fluid, and that was causing the problem with third that I had been experiencing. Not only that, but they overfilled it, as well. So, it seems they think this is the root cause of my third gear problem.

Nevertheless, considering that so many others seem to be experiencing the same problem, and also that I experienced the same thing on the Type-S, I doubt this is the underlying cause- unless the same guy is running around putting the wrong type of fluid in everyone's Si and Type-S. So, we'll see what happens.

By the way, the main reason I brought it in was for a strange creaking noise that seemed to be coming from my rear suspension, and it turns out that my rear passenger side shock needs to be replaced.

Not to make light of your issue but the Tech who looked at your car needs to smell the new oil that Honda is using in the manual trannys. It smells like gear oil. Chances are that the oil was fine and you probably won't notice any difference.
On the RSX for 04 and some of 05 we have been replacing Synchro sets that include 2nd and 3rd gears, this has definately improved the shift quality. As for the SI I can't help you. Best bet if the issue continues take it back and give them another shot at it. Then if it's not fixed call Honda Customer relations and let them look into the issue.
Best of Luck and Hope you can get it fixed.

[Paradox Lost]

Originally Posted by wannapar3

Not to make light of your issue but the Tech who looked at your car needs to smell the new oil that Honda is using in the manual trannys. It smells like gear oil. Chances are that the oil was fine and you probably won't notice any difference.
On the RSX for 04 and some of 05 we have been replacing Synchro sets that include 2nd and 3rd gears, this has definately improved the shift quality. As for the SI I can't help you. Best bet if the issue continues take it back and give them another shot at it. Then if it's not fixed call Honda Customer relations and let them look into the issue.
Best of Luck and Hope you can get it fixed.

Hey, thanks for that- I've had a lot of informative responses here so far. I got the car back the other day, though it's actually not ready- the shock doesn't come in until probably Monday, so they said it was fine to drive the car around until then. In any event, they already completed the transmission work, and I've noticed overall smoother shifting, which may very well be a mere placebo on my part. As for third gear popping out, haven't noticed it, but then again I've still been taking the extra effort to really make sure it's in there before letting off the clutch.

I'd like to mention all your info to the service providers, but I'll wait and see if it does it again. Although I am still skeptical of their diagnosis for a number of reasons (many of which were brought up in this thread), I don't want to come off as one of those customers who seems like they're trying to tell professionals how to do their job, especially since they claim that the problem has been resolved, and it hasn't happened since then- but I'll definitely keep all that in mind in the event that it's not fixed. :)

[aodmisery]

over on vtec.com someone said that there tranny fluid was overfilled and that was what was causing the problem all they did was change it out and shifts are smooth now. maybe someone should try just removing some tranny fluid and see if the shifts are better. cause this cold weather is really making 3rd gear worse

[televascular]

I have the '06 Si and I have solved my third gear issues.

Do what I did: buy Specialty Formulations' MTL-P tranny fluid... it works! Not only does the car shift more smoothly, but my 3rd gear issues have disappeared! I've come to realize that these "popping out of gear" problems don't come from a problem within the transmission, but the fact that Honda MTF is very, very crappy. Trust me on this.

[aodmisery]

Originally Posted by televascular

I have the '06 Si and I have solved my third gear issues.

Do what I did: buy Specialty Formulations' MTL-P tranny fluid... it works! Not only does the car shift more smoothly, but my 3rd gear issues have disappeared! I've come to realize that these "popping out of gear" problems don't come from a problem within the transmission, but the fact that Honda MTF is very, very crappy. Trust me on this.

thats what i been hearing its a combination of too much tranny fluid and it just being crappy all together. http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-messa...&page_number=1

[SiRyan]

I just bought GM Syncromesh with the friction addivitive thing. I have never changed my MTF can anyone please help me out with a DIY or some pics. THanks! Of course I'll +1 Rep you!!

[aodmisery]

Originally Posted by SiRyan

I just bought GM Syncromesh with the friction addivitive thing. I have never changed my MTF can anyone please help me out with a DIY or some pics. THanks! Of course I'll +1 Rep you!!

on the link right above your post theres a instructions on how to do it just scroll down a bit.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by CivicWithNav

we should get a petition for honda to fix the problem

your an activist or something??? you always call for a petition on every thing.

[fijiblue06si]

Originally Posted by televascular

I have the '06 Si and I have solved my third gear issues.

Do what I did: buy Specialty Formulations' MTL-P tranny fluid... it works! Not only does the car shift more smoothly, but my 3rd gear issues have disappeared! I've come to realize that these "popping out of gear" problems don't come from a problem within the transmission, but the fact that Honda MTF is very, very crappy. Trust me on this.

How many miles did you have on your car when you switched? How many you have now since you wrote that post. Any differences? I am thinking of doing this too. Would it be best to get all the old fluid out(vacuum) or just drain it and put in as much new fluid as what comes out? I am having the same 3rd gear issues, although they seem to come and go depending on how i shift into third. I currently have 6250 miles on my car. The only shifter mod I have are the corsport bushings.......i had the comptech short shifter but removed it because it felt like it made the problem worse.

[aki]

Unless Honda put in new equally crappy MTF in my car, not sure if it's a fluid issue, but I'd want to swap out with synthetic just to be safe. The vtec.net sounds like too much for what I can do, since I don't have the luxury of space to put my car on 4 jack stands--is there a more practical DIY?

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

do you guys know that you warranty on transmission will be void if you change your own/different type of transmission fluid? what if something happend on the syncros when you change your MTF?

[fijiblue06si]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

do you guys know that you warranty on transmission will be void if you change your own/different type of transmission fluid? what if something happend on the syncros when you change your MTF?

Does that mean that if you change your oil with anything other than oem honda 5w-30 fill then your warranty on your engine is void. If the different fluid was found to the be the cause of the problem, i would buy that argument. There are some manufacturers that develop fluids to be specially formulated for honda engines/transmissions. I remember reading an article a while back that stated that honda/acura was going to be switching OEM oil from the honda oil to mobile 1. I will not totally shoot a hole in your theory as I am not a manual tranny expert.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

^^^ whatever bro.. im not gonna argue ethier... changing oil is fine as far as i know, as long that your using the same weigh oil (5w-30) or (10w/30) on the SI, you warranty is okey. but its a transmission fluid, as far a i know you dont change your tranny fulid til 50k miles or more. but IDK, its just 3 ASE master tech/my professor told me that once you touch your tranny fluid, the warranty is void. and all them have atleast 10 yrs of experience working on the dealer.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by fijiblue06si

Does that mean that if you change your oil with anything other than oem honda 5w-30 fill then your warranty on your engine is void. If the different fluid was found to the be the cause of the problem, i would buy that argument. There are some manufacturers that develop fluids to be specially formulated for honda engines/transmissions. I remember reading an article a while back that stated that honda/acura was going to be switching OEM oil from the honda oil to mobile 1. I will not totally shoot a hole in your theory as I am not a manual tranny expert.

do you know why k20 engine is using a 5W-30 oil at all??? but i guess , you dont know y we're using a 5w-30.


and yes they will void your warranty if they found out that the cause of the engine wear is becasue you use a different oil weigh.

[fijiblue06si]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

do you know why k20 engine is using a 5W-30 oil at all??? but i guess , you dont know y we're using a 5w-30.


and yes they will void your warranty if they found out that the cause of the engine wear is becasue you use a different oil weigh.

I changed my oil to mobile 1 using the recommended oil weight specified on the filler cap. As for the transmission, I can take it back to honda but i know they wont do shit because my car seems to never act up when they drive it and from what i have been reading Honda really doesn't do much about the 3rd gear grind that lots have been experiencing.